I79 8 -] 



OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



4 43 



Toward the latter end of the month, Mr.Bafs, the furgeon of the Re- 

 liance, returned from an excurfion in an open boat to the fouthward, 

 after an abfence of twelve weeks. This gentleman requefted the Go- 

 vernor to allow him a boat, and permit him to man her with volun- 

 teers from the King's (hips ; propofmg to go along the coafl, and make 

 fuch obfervations as might be in his power. The Governor readily 

 confenting, he fet out, as well provided as the fize of his boat would 

 allow ; and in her proceeded as far to the fouthward as the latitude 

 40 0 00', vifiting every opening in the coafl ; but only in one place 

 to the fouthward and weftward of Point Hicks, finding a harbour 

 capable of admitting (hips, There was every appearance of an ex- 

 tenfive ftrait, or rather an open fea, between the latitudes of 39 0 and 

 40° fouth ; and that Van Diemen's land confided (as had been con- 

 jectured) of a group of iflands lying off the fouthern coafl: of the 

 country. 



It appeared from Mr. Bafs's account, that there was but very little 

 good ground to the fouthward. His occafionai excurfions into the 

 interior, fituated as he found himfelf with an open boat, in which he 



could 



ferruginous fpots, The firft two lower feathers, which are a little curved in two directions, 

 are, beneath, of a pearly colour, enriched with feveral crefcent-fhaped fpaces, of a rich rufous 

 and black colour. The laminae are unwebbed, turned round toward the extremity, and orna- 

 mented with a black bar, the breadth of an inch, and fringed at theend. The {haft of the fecond, 

 which is likewife long, is fringed with long hair-like filaments ; and the third, which is alfo 

 long and curved, is plumed on the inner fide only, except at the extremity, where there are a 

 few feparated filaments of a dark grey colour. 



c< The female Msenura Superba differs very little from the male, except in the tail;, which is 

 compofed of twelve feathers a little curved and plumed, having the upper fide dark rufous and 

 grey, and the under of a pearly colour. 



«' The following curious particulars of thefe birds were obferved by perfons refident in the 

 country, and who were eye-witneffes to what is here told. 



" They frequent retired and inacceffible parts of the interior ; have been feen to run remark- 

 ably faft ; but their tails are fo cumbrous that they cannot fly in a direct line. They firig for 

 two hours in the morning, beginning from the time when they quit the valley, until they attain 

 the futr.mit of the hill ; where they fcrape together a fmall hillock; on which they Hand, with 

 their tail fpread over them, imitating fucceffively the note of every bird known in the country. 

 They then return to the valley." 



3 L 2 



