THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 121 



EXPEDITION OF FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB TO 

 KENT GROUP, BASS STRAITS. 



Kent Group. — Description of Islands. 

 By D. Le Souef. 

 The Kent Group of Islands, which we have lately visited, are 

 situated about 50 miles S.E. of Wilson's Promontory, and much 

 nearer Australia than Tasmania. The group is composed of 

 five islands, namely, Deal, Dover, Erith, N.E. and S.W. Islands. 

 Deal Island is the largest, and on it stands the lighthouse. This 

 island is about four miles by two, and is very hilly. The valleys 

 are mostly covered with thick tussocky grass, knee deep, and the 

 hills with dense short scrub, consisting principally of Sheoak, 

 Melaleuca, a small variety of the Eucalyptus, Pine (Callitris), 

 Banksia, Acacias, and Ti-tree. All round the island, except in the 

 coves, are boh I granite cliffs, and limestone is plentiful near the 

 surface over all the islands. There are several hills between 

 500 and 700 feet high, and the height of the land on which the 

 lighthouse is built is over 900 feet. There are several small 

 streams with slightly brackish water. 



Erith and Dover Islands are separated from Deal Island by 

 Murray Pass, which is about a mile wide and from 25 to 30 

 fathoms in depth, and through which a strong five-knot current 

 runs. These two islands are joined by a narrow isthmus just 

 above high water. Erith Island is fairly level in places and 

 covered with grass, Goodenia, pig-face, scrub, and on one part some 

 fair-sized sheoaks. There is a good sheltered sandy beach 

 opposite the pass. The highest point of the island is 568 feet. 



Dover Island seems to be altogether rock-bound, and is very 

 hilly, with high cliffs on its west side, its highest point being 774 

 feet. It is covered with dense short scrub. 



S.W. Isle is a barren rock, 323 feet, about eight miles from the 

 lighthouse, and close to the Judgment Rocks. The N.E. Isle, on 

 which the Mutton Bird rookery is situated, is about five acres in 

 extent, and 345 feet high. 



Although these islands are so close to Australia, yet their fauna 

 is more closely allied to that of Tasmania, as, although the majority 

 of birds are common to both countries, yet there are six or seven 

 varieties belonging to Tasmania to two belonging to Victoria. Of 

 the reptiles the White-lipped Snake is found in both countries, as 

 are the lizards, insects, and worms, except one lizard, which has 

 not yet been identified, and which is probably not Victorian. The 

 eel is the only freshwater fish found there, and it exists in both 

 Tasmania and Victoria. With regard to plants, Baron von 

 Mueller has kindly named those brought, and states that they all 

 :grow in Victoria as well as Tasmania. We should judge that the 

 islands were joined to Tasmania after they had been separated 



