200 
CRUISE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 
with which the Coral Sea is studded; and which, 
therefore, makes this passage very dangerous, not- 
withstanding all the recent surveys which have been 
made. 
We anchored in shallow water off Raine Island, a 
low reef covered with scanty vegetation. On land- 
ing, sea-birds were found to exist in vast numbers, 
rising and hovering above us in clouds thick enough 
to darken the air. Each description appeared to 
keep its own selected breeding-place, the nests being 
on the bare sandy ground, with little or no attempt 
at building, except on the part of the pretty black 
and white tern, which prefer to build on the low 
scrub, slightly raised from the ground. The next, 
day we proceeded towards Bird Islands, where we 
anchored for the night. They are three low, wooded 
islets, situated on the margin of a circular coral 
reef. There were no natives seen either here or 
on Sir Charles Hardy Islands, which we after- 
wards passed. On the 1st September we arrived 
at Somerset, Cape York, the north-east point of 
Australia. The barren, sandy appearance of the 
coast, seen through the thick mist which, appa- 
rently, always accompanies the trade-wind, as we ran 
quickly past, gave anything but pleasing or hopeful 
first impressions ; and this feeling each day’s stay 
at this solitary" outpost only served to intensify. 
The Colonial Government support the small settle- 
ment, and the monthly mail between the colony and 
