Vol. VIII. 



1909 



j White, Expedifion to Islands of Bass Strait. ^QQ 



{Platycercus flaviventris) appeared to be plentiful, and a solitary 

 individual or two of the Flame-breasted Robin were seen. I have 

 no doubt if a longer stay had been made on the island a great 

 many more birds would have been identified. 



From the Hunter Group a course was set for the Tasmanian 

 coast, but on our way we called at Penguin Island, a mere rock 

 of a few acres in extent, surrounded by dangerous reefs. It was 

 with no little risk that our boat picked her way amongst sunken 

 rocks, and dropped anchor several chains off shore. A boat- 

 load of ornithologists and photographers put off, and after some 

 trouble effected a landing. Bird-life was abundant, consisting 

 chiefly of Mutton-Birds and Penguins, their nesting burrows 

 completely honeycombing the top of the low island. At every 

 step one sank up to the thigh. Several pairs of Pelicans 

 {Pelecamcs conspicillatns) had taken up their nesting quarters on 

 this rock, and in rude nests amongst the tussock-grass were 

 seen the lime-encrusted, dirty-white eggs. The birds themselves, 

 being very wary, had taken flight at the first approach of the 

 steamer, and their ungainly-looking forms could be seen bobbing 

 about on the water some distance out. 



TASMANIA. 



On 1st December, at daybreak, the Manawatii was moored 

 alongside the wharf at Devonport, on the North Coast of 

 Tasmania, in order to take in fresh water and provisions. All 

 were pleased to have an hour or so in the pretty little town, 

 after a week's tossing among the western isles of the Strait. 

 Shortly after midday we cast off from Devonport wharf and 

 steamed down the River Mersey to the open sea. Keeping 

 along the north-eastern shore of Tasmania, we dropped anchor 

 under the lea of Waterhouse Island, but did not land, it being 

 too late, and the glass falling. 



FURNEAUX GROUP. 



Next morning we made for the Furneaux Group. The run 

 across Banks Strait to Cape Barren Island was anything but 

 pleasant, with a strong wind and a choppy sea, so that we were 

 glad when the anchor was cast between Cape Barren and Long 

 Islands. As we had several medical gentlemen on board who were 

 anxious to visit the half-caste inhabitants on Cape Barren Island, 

 all landed here. The Furneaux Group, which includes the fine 

 island of "Flinders, Cape Barren Island, and Clarke Island, with 

 numerous surrounding islets and rocks, was interesting as being 

 the home of a coloured people descended on the one side from 

 the aborigines of Tasmania and Gippsland. In olden days 

 escaped convicts, soldier and sailor deserters, scalers, &c., sought 

 refuge in the solitary isles, and during raids upon Tasmania and 

 the mainland they carried off aboriginal women quite in the 



