ORNITHOLOGY OF SECTION D, 1850. 
off alive by the natives. Another of the latter, originally brought 
from New Guinea, was afterwards obtained at Darnley Island, 
making a fine pair of this singular Opossum. We saw a few feathers 
of Birds of Paradise ; plenty of those of a Cassowary; and some 
heads of a Buceros varying much in the number and arrangements 
of the plates at the base of the bill. I can scarcely convey to you 
my feelings of deep disappointment, at being for so long a time 
employed upon a coast where so few opportunities of landing oc- 
curred, Had it been prudent so to do, our disposable force was 
nore than sufficient to ascend some at least of the large rivers seen 
on various parts of the coast, fed by magnificent mountain ranges ; 
one of which, Mount D’Urville, attains an elevation of upwards of 
12,000 feet. Howeyer, there was no help for it; so after complet- 
ing the survey, we ran to Cape York, where we arrived in the 
beginning of October. Here we remained for three months, while 
the Bramble and some of the boats were engaged in completing the 
Survey of Torres Straits. This gave us an opportunity of seeing 
much of the neighbouring country; and we were surprised to find 
several running streams within a few miles of the anchorage, of 
Which, during my five or six previotis visits, I had no knowledge; 
and many fine brushes, inhabited by several species of birds, of the 
existence of which we were not before aware, although some of 
them, as the Aplonis, were common. Doubtless, many more are 
Yet to be found in the same district, and will be brought to light 
When an ostablishment is formed by Government at Cape York, 
sn event soon likely to take place, now that Port Essington has 
®en entirely abandoned. 
af sti to resume—it was chiefly by our intimacy with the natives 
i ie! Pinal in getting so many new birds ; and in acquiring 
Mie ge of their language, I was materially assisted by a white 
bane ie Who had resided for four years and a half among a neigh- 
ida tribe, who came to us for protection, and was taken on 
“ie nite brought on to Sydney, where her friends are living. She 
‘S ie! ing her husband in a small cutter from Moreton Bay 
au the Ssington, when the yessel struck on a Teel in the Straits, 
Wad tes men were drowned in attempting to swim on shore. She 
set cued by the natives, one of whom, of course, claimed her as 
vera and treated her as his gin ever afterwards, but was 
ey kind and much attached to her. She speaks well of the 
