162 THE VICTORIAN NA.TURAL18T, 



who perished in the wreck of the Cataraque in 1845. The coast 

 line is rocky, and exposed to the west winds, the surf breaking 

 on the shore and on the reefs out to sea. Eight miles to the 

 south of the Ettrick a bold bluff of land — Fitzmaurice Bluff — 

 runs out to sea. It is formed of gneiss and granite. Its rocks 

 are very jagged, and every now and then are found patches of 

 large, rounded, boulder stones. Its lower parts immediately 

 above the rocks are covered with dense scrub, but above this lies 

 open grass land. Every nook in the rocks is occupied by a 

 luxuriant growth of the wild geranium {PelargoJimm Australe), and 

 in damp, sheltered spots the fern Asplenium mannum flourishes. 

 From the top of the Bluff a fine view is obtained of the coast to 

 the south — the wildest scenery upon the island. The granite 

 cliffs rise directly from the sea, and the strong wind forces all 

 the scrub to lie down, as it were, flat against the side of the 

 hills, though it appears to be only able to grow in the valleys by 

 the side of the creeks. Numerous solitary granite masses stand 

 out in the sea, and clouds of spray dash themselves high up 

 against the face of the cliffs. Seal Rock, so named from the 

 presence of these animals, and lying some distance to tbe south 

 of Fitzmaurice Bay, was the most southerly point reached upon 

 the island. 



On the return journey a few hours were spent on New Year 

 Islands. These are the granitic masses apparently continuous 

 (by sunken reefs) with the granite of Whistler Point, and lie 

 between four and five miles to the west of the latter. They are 

 covered with low-lying scrub and herbage, and are principally 

 interesting for containing extensive rookeries of Pacific gulls and 

 the sooty petrel, or mutton-bird. Our visit was unfortunately 

 made two or three days too early (20th November), for the 

 mutton-birds arrive with wonderful regularity between 22nd and 

 25th November. The nests consist of long burrows in the sandy 

 ground, a large tract being simply riddled with these holes, out 

 of which the bird is drawn by means of a stick, with a piece of 

 hoop-iron projecting at right angles from one end. The mutton- 

 birds arrive in great numbers — their advent is said to be heralded 

 by a storm, known as the " mutton-bird gale" — and the rookery, 

 perfectly quiet before their coming, is immediately the scene of 

 wonderful life and activity. It is curious to note that not a 

 single mutton-bird is to be found on King Island itself, though 

 on Sea Elephant Rock, some four miles from the east coast, there 

 is another rookery. 



GENEKAL RESULTS. 



By Pkofessob Spencer. 



The following is a short account of the general results of the expedition : — 

 It was unfortunate that no geologist was able to go, but the shortness of the time 

 spent upon the island rendered it very difficult to do much in this line, as it was 

 impossible to stay long in one place, and very few natural sections of rock coidd be 



