Investigator's Group.] TERRA AUSTRALIS. 125 
there was very little, either of the white, velvety shrub (atriplex), F( J b 8 r ° u 2 a ' ry , 
or of the tufted, wiry grass. A small species of kanguroo, not bigger Saturday is. 
than a cat, was rather numerous. I shot five of them, and some 
others were killed by the botanists and fheir attendants, and found 
to be in tolerably good condition. We were now beginning to want 
a supply of water, and the northern part of the island was sought 
over carefully for it ; but the nearest approach to success was in 
finding dried-up swamps, in which the growing plants were tinged 
red, as if the water had been brackish. No other trees than a few 
small casiiarinas at a distance from the anchorage, were seen upon the 
island ; but wood for fuel might with some difficulty be picked out 
from the larger bushes growing near the shore. The beaches were 
frequented by seals of the hair kind. A family of them consisting 
of a male, four or five females, and as many cubs, was lying asleep 
at every two or three hundred yards. Their security was such, that 
I approached several of these families very closely ; and retired 
without disturbing their domestic tranquillity, or being perceived by 
them. 
The latitude of the north-east sandy cove in Flinders' Island was 
found to be 33° 41' south, and longitude 134,° 27^-' east. The variation 
on board, observed by Mr. Thistle on the binnacle with the ship's 
head south-by-east, was o° 6' east; which, corrected, gives o° 44' 
for the variation to be allowed on the bearings taken on shore, or 
on board the ship with the head at north or south. The tide appear- 
ed to be as inconsiderable here as in Nuyts' Archipelago. With the 
present southern winds the temperature at this island was very 
agreeable ; the thermometer stood between 65 0 and 68°, and the 
barometer at 30,08 inches, and it was rising. 
In the morning of the 14th, the wind was at south-south-east. Sunday u. 
We weighed the anchor at daylight, and beat to windward the 
whole day ; but without gaining any thing to the southward. A little 
before midnight, the wind having veered more to the east, we passed 
the Top-gallant Isles, and at noon next day were in the following Monday 15. 
situation : 
vol. 1. U u 
