Vol. VIII, 

 1909 



j White, Exfyedition to Islands of Bass Strait. 201 



island, and did what they could to alleviate suffering. In one 

 case they walked 4 miles out on a sandy track, and found a 

 patient suffering from nothing more than sheer starvation, not 

 having enough nourishment to keep up the frame. Then the 

 dental doctors spent the afternoon in pulling teeth. Again, 

 about 50 lbs. of confections and cakes were distributed among the 

 children, the " surprise party " terminating with a phonographic 

 entertainment, which delighted beyond measure these simple- 

 minded people. Ornithologists found bird-life on this island 

 scarce, and represented by only one or two of the more common 

 species. This is no doubt due to their destruction by the inhabi- 

 tants. Insects were numerous, due obviously to the scarcity of 

 birds. One creature preys upon the other according to the law 

 of nature. Some of the party made fair catches in entomology. 

 Leaving Cape Barren Island and its forlorn inhabitants 

 astern, the Manazvatu steamed along the coast of Flinders 

 Island, threading her way amongst many rocks and islets, 

 till Kangaroo Island was reached. On this low, sterile 

 piece of land a family has taken up its abode, and sub- 

 sists, or exists, by sheep-farming. We landed a member of 

 our party here — a genial spirit, who passes most of the 

 year on Flinders Island amidst Nature's solitude. We 

 also took on some fresh mutton, and then stood along 

 the coast till the Pascoe Group was reached. Here we 

 dropped anchor, under the lee of Roden Island. Soon Dr. 

 Lempriere's oil-launch was hoisted over the side and lay 

 bobbing about on a choppy sea. When the landing party 

 clambered down into the boat she puffed away to the island, 

 and the landing was anything but easy. The swell would 

 not allow the launch in too close to the rocks, so all had 

 to land by means of the dinghy. The members of the 

 party soon scattered over the island, which is about 50 acres 

 in extent. A pair of Eagles {Uroacltis audax) was seen 

 soaring round the top of a high prominence which formed the 

 centre of the island, but on our approach they flew towards 

 Flinders Island. Their deserted nest was found by a member 

 of our party, situated on the top of the highest crag. It was 

 here we first met with the Cape Barren Geese {Cereopsis novce- 

 hollandice). About a dozen were feeding on the pig-face weed, 

 but they flew off" as soon as we landed. The mournful call of 

 the Black Oyster-catcher {Hceinatopus imicolof) was heard, and 

 we came upon a solitary pair on the rocks or sandy beach, 

 but nowhere in any numbers. The nest of the Pied species {H. 

 longirostris) was observed on this island, as well as nests of 

 the Pacific Gull, Penguins, and Mutton-Birds. Brown Quail 

 {Syikvcus ausiralis), Grass-Bird {Megaluriis gramineus), and the 

 Hooded Dottrel were noted. A party in the ship's boat 

 essayed a trip to an adjacent island, and after a hard pull against 



