132 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



thirteen miles turned inland, and, continuing two miles, made 

 Porky Lagoon, and camped. Next morning good work was 

 performed in the neighbourhood of the lagoon. Eastwards is 

 the remains of a singular ancient forest of eucalypts, indicated 

 by blanched, naked tree-barrels. Fire may have been the 

 destroying element ; but other opinions exist that insect life or 

 root decay, caused by the local shifting of earth, is at the 

 bottom of the evil. The last theory appears the most feasible,, 

 because in a different part of the island was seen a portion of 

 another dead forest standing in a permanent lagoon of about 

 thirty acres of water ; thus pointing to movement of land in 

 some direction or other. 2 p.m. — Another start was made. 

 Travelling south-westerly, at about five miles Currie Harbour 

 was made, where the party was hospitably entertained by the 

 superintendent, Mr. Buckpitt. 



On the 9th some of the party proceeded further coastwise, 

 and met with more or less success, and next day all this party 

 returned towards head-quarters, breaking the journey for another 

 night's camp at Porky Lagoon, reaching the main camp safely 

 about 2 p.m. the fifth day out. 



(Third). — It was necessary to have a home station, which 

 consisted of Sub-inspector Deasy, Dr. Lewellin, Messrs. T. 

 G. Campbell, Lane, Coles, Sheppard, Hunt, French, jun.,. 

 Ingamells, and St. John, who performed fair work in the 

 neighbourhood of Whistler Point and the inland lagoons, and 

 by making occasional visits to Cape Wickham, where Mr. Sweet 

 conducted dredging operations with little or no success, owing 

 to the unfavourable nature of the ocean bed. 



Monday, 14th. — A second party was formed to explore the 

 western side of the island, this time consisting of Professor 

 Spencer, Messrs. Chandler (who proceeded the morning before), 

 Cornwall, A. J. Campbell, Frost, Le Souef, Wood, French, jun., 

 Sheppard, and Sweet, with Grave and four horses. The route 

 taken was much the same as the previous party, with the excep- 

 tion that as Porky Lagoon had been previously explored it was 

 not visited, and Currie Harbour Lighthouse made the same 

 evening. Distance, about twenty-one miles. 



Tuesday, isth. — All left for southward except Mr. Cornwall, 

 who remained at the harbour. At about seven miles came to 

 the Ettrick River, and camped. Between the harbour and the 

 river is the British Admiral beach, on whose rocky promon- 

 tories and outlying reefs the noble ship bearing that name was 

 totally wrecked in 1874. The neighbouring sand dunes have 

 been turned into a cemetery in consequence. It might be 

 noticed here that on going round Netherley Point, where a full- 

 rigged ship of that name broke her back in 1866, that the chart 

 showed it as Waterwitch Point, whereas that point is some 

 miles farther north, and shown as Netherlev Point. The names 



