32 THE WOMBAT. 



you will be able to get away, for instance Mr. H. P. C 

 Ashworth and myself were detained on Albatross Island three 

 days over our time, on account of the weather, and we were 

 fortunate in getting off then, but then Albatross is far more 

 exposed than the majority of the other islands, besides being 

 much smaller. The largest group is Furneaux, which com- 

 prises three large islands — Flinders, Barren and Clark, besides 

 numerous smaller ones ; it is situated close to the North coast 

 of Tasmania. On Flinders is a colony of half-castes, and they 

 go anywhere in the straits in their boats. These islands were 

 visited not long ago by some members of the Field Naturalists' 

 Club of Victoria. This group being large, shelter can be 

 obtained in any weather. On many of the smaller islands 

 the Cape Barren Goose breeds, and on Cat Island is a large 

 gannet rookery, a sight in itself worth going a long way to 

 see. Then on Babel Island a rookery of the white-breasted 

 Cormorant, several large rookeries of the Short-tailed Petrel 

 or Mutton bird, which are always a source of interest. Then 

 again among the various islands are to be found the White- 

 bellied Sea Eagle, Black-cheeked Falcon, Dove-like Prion, 

 Pacific Gulls, Silver Gulls and others. The Eagles lay in 

 September, but the majority of the other birds in November 

 and December. 



Not far from here is the Kent Group, also visited by 

 members of the Field Naturalists' Club ; it consists of Deal 

 Island, Erith Island and Dover Island, and North-east Island. 

 There is a lighthouse here, and this group is well worth a visit. 

 On N. E. Island, which is little better than a rock, a Mutton- 

 bird rookery exists, and also breeding on the same island are 

 Dove-like Prions, Diving Petrels, Silver and Pacific Gulls, and 

 probably the White-faced Petrel. On Deal Island various 

 land birds nest in the scrub, and a pair of White-bellied Sea 

 Eagles have their home on a rocky crag. Quail are fairly 

 plentiful, also Sooty Crow-shrikes, Yellow-bellied Parrots, 

 Mountain Thrushes, Thickheads, &c. The waters abound 

 with fish, and there are nice sandy beaches on which to haul 

 in the net, and fresh water is plentiful. Penguins are numer- 

 ous among the rocks round the island, in fact there is probably 

 not an island in the strait free from them. This island forms 

 an ideal camping ground. Fossil remains of the giant 

 Kangaroo have been obtained here. 



Hogan Group is not far from the Kent Group, but 

 there is no permanent water here, and the principal thing of 

 interest on the island is a large Mutton bird rookery, and a 

 good number of Copper-head snakes, which are very fond of 

 taking refuge in the holes the birds make for their nests, and 

 one is never sure whether he is going to get a snake or an egg. 



Various other small islands are scattered about, but 

 although many are worth visiting, none are large enough to 



