THE ZOOLOGIST 



No. 673.— July, 1897. 



A FLYING VISIT TO DIRK HARTOG AND THE 

 HOUTMAN'S ABROLHOS ISLANDS, WESTERN 

 AUSTRALIA. 



By J. J. Walker, R.N., F.L.S. 



In November, 1890, H.M. Surveying Ship 'Penguin,' Capt. 

 W. Usborne Moore, was on a voyage from Gascoyne Roads, 

 West Australia, to Fremantle, en route for Hobart, Tasmania, 

 after an arduous and successful surveying season on the north-west 

 coast of Australia. On the afternoon of the 12th, while steaming 

 across Shark's Bay, a strong breeze sprang up right in our teeth, 

 and we accordingly anchored, two hours before sunset, in smooth 

 water under the lee of the north end of Dirk Hartog Island. We 

 were within half a mile of the shore, which consisted of sand- 

 stone cliffs about 150 ft. high, and dunes of blown sand covered 

 with rough grass and scattered bushes ; nothing like a tree being 

 visible, although such parts of the interior of the island as could 

 be seen from the ship appeared to be fairly well clothed with 

 grass and herbage. 



Our boatswain, who was an indefatigable fisherman, soon 

 had his line overboard, but without getting a single bite for a 

 long time. At last he hauled in a very handsome reddish- 

 silvery Bream-like fish, which I recognized at once as the 

 "Snapper," Pagrus unicolor, well known and highly esteemed all 

 round the Australian coast. Every fishing-line in the ship was 

 quickly over the side, and for an hour quite exciting sport was 



Zool. 4th ser. vol. I., July, 1897. y 



