160 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



looking island of the group. Bold and rugged, it stands alone ; at 

 each end its separate cliffs, at least one hundred and fifty feet high, 

 were sharply defined against the clear windy sky. To an 

 ornithologist it is especially interesting, as some of the smaller 

 Albatross (all of which are called Molly mauks by the seamen) 

 breed there, and most of their eggs yet remain undescribed by 

 the naturalist. However, I trust at some future date to be in 

 a position to land there. Far to the west is Pyramid Island, 

 which here loses its typical or pyramidal shape as seen from the 

 mainland. 



We camped the night on the West Hunter, which is not 

 of much interest ; it is sometimes called " Barren Island " 

 on the charts, and a more fitting name could not well be found 

 for it. 



On the 19th we sailed over to the East Hunter, or Three 

 Hummock Island, which is a characteristic name for it, being 

 derived from the three peaks so well seen from steamers when 

 making the journey from Circular Head to Melbourne. It is the 

 largest island of the group, containing about twenty-three thousand 

 acres, being some two thousand acres larger than Barren Island, 

 from which it differs in every material respect ; we sailed into 

 " Chimney " Corner, where Captain John Burgess lives, who 

 rents the island from the Tasmanian Government. Mr. Burgess 

 took us round his " farm," which consists of patches of ground 

 recently cleared, and cultivated with crops of potatoes, turnips, 

 oats and peas, &c., all of which look very healthy, and, considering 

 that he has only been at work for six months, the improvements 

 made in so short a time are very creditable. 



This island is of granitic formation, excepting a few spots where 

 limestone of good quality occurs. The granite along the coast 

 line is of very coarse texture, the quartz in many instances varying 

 in size from three to six-inch cubes. Perhaps the most peculiar 

 feature of this island is the entire absence of mammals with the 

 exception of the Rat Kangaroo. But, contrary to common report, 

 snakes do occur, though I should judge they are rare. 



Chimney Corner, where we made our headquarters, has a nice 

 little sheltered bay for small boats and for larger craft in easterly 

 winds, and in bad weather from the opposite quarter vessels can 

 run round to East Telegraph Bay, where they can find good 

 shelter and anchorage. I walked along the beach to the southern 

 end of the island, from whence Circular Head and Rocky Cape 

 were plainly visible. 



The next day, Wednesday, the 20th, I made an attempt to 

 ascend Hummocky Hill, the highest of the three peaks from 

 which the island gets its name. But, owing to the dense scrub 

 prevailing everywhere, I was unsuccessful. So I spent the re- 



