202 



White, Expedition to Islands of Bass Strait. [,sf April 



a strong current and choppy sea were rewarded scantily, for 

 little bird-life was to be seen and no birds nesting. The old 

 nests of Cape Barren Geese were seen in the tussock-grass. 

 Next morning at daylight we continued on our course north- 

 ward till the Sisters were reached — two high islands but a short 

 distance from the north end of Flinders Island. We ran 

 between the islands and reached a pretty cove. From thence we 

 landed Dr. Howard and party to remain the night on Flinders 

 Island, while the Manaivatti steamed down the coast, and we 

 were to return and pick them up on the following day. This 

 land party took four days' provisions, in case of emergency, 

 for should the wind chop round to the west the steamer might 

 have to stand out to sea for several days. Mr. Kershaw joined 

 the party, being anxious to procure a specimen of the Flinders 

 Island wombat, which is supposed to be a distinct species from 

 that of Australia. We continued our course down the west 

 coast of Flinders, with a high sea running, and as we breasted 

 the seas that rolled in from the wide Tasman Sea, that 

 stretches leagues away to New Zealand, our spirits were any- 

 thing but cheerful, because it seemed as though, like at Albatross 

 Rock, there would be little chance of landing on the wonderful 

 Gannet rookeries, which we were then making for. Strange to 

 say, about noon, just as we were approaching Babel Island, the 

 wind died away, and we steamed in through a channel between 

 Cat and Babel Islands not more than 250 yards wide, and 

 dropped anchor under the shelter of Cat Island, with Store- 

 house Island near on the starboard and Babel Island on the 

 port bow. Wind and sea had now abated, and but for the 

 slight ground-swell one could imagine oneself on an inland lake 

 — conditions that may not be experienced once in six months. 

 All were eager to land on Cat Island. The cinematograph and 

 operator went ashore in the first boat, for it was always under- 

 stood that the records were to be taken before the birds were 

 disturbed. After landing on the slippery rocks, which had to be 

 done with care, for as each swell brought the boat up on the 

 rock, it paused but a moment, and was then swept out 

 again, all clambered up the tussock-covered hillside. The 

 whole island is completely honeycombed with Mutton-Bird 

 and Penguin burrows, and at nearly every step one would sink 

 down past the knee, to the discomfort not only of the 

 members of our party, but of the poor bird incubating in the 

 burrow. At last all hacj gained the ridge, including the only 

 lady member of the party. What a marvellous sight met our 

 eyes ! On this bare crest of the island was a Gannet {Siila 

 scrrator) rookery, an acre of living nesting birds, each sitting on 

 a little raised mound of earth and dt'bris,\v\\.\\ a slight depression 

 on the top, in which rested a single dirty-white <tgg. Each bird 

 was just out of range of its neighbour's bill. Amongst the 



