THE HISTORY OF ZOOLOGY IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 57 
sort of white Sea-Mews, but black about the Eyes, and with 
forked Tails ” [probably crested terns). 
The 6th of August they entered Sharks Bay, but the\ could 
find no water on Dirk Hartog Island, where they landed. 
“ There were but few Land-Fowls ; we saw none but Eagles, 
of the larger Sorts of Birds ; but 5 or 6 Sorts of small Birds. 
The biggest Sort of these were not bigger than Larks ; some no 
bigger than Wrens, all singing with great Variety of fine shrill 
Notes ; and we saw some of their Nests with young Ones in them. 
The Water-Fowls are Ducks (which had young Ones now, this 
being the Beginning of the Spring in these Parts), Curlews, 
Galdens, Crab-catchers, Cormorants, Gulls, Pelicans ; and some 
Water-Fowl, such as I have not seen anywhere besides. I have 
given the Pictures of 4 several Birds on this ( oast.’’ Lig. 2. 
Description : “ This very much resembles the Guarauna, de- 
scribed and figured by Piso." It is probably intended for the 
straw-necked ibis, Carphibus spinicollis. Fig. 3. Description : 
“ The head and greatcsl part, of ye neck of this bird is red, and 
therein differs from the Avosetta of I taly.” 1 1 is an obvious figure 
of the red-necked avocet, Recurviroslra novae holla tidiae. big. 4. — ■ 
Description : “ The Bill and Leggs of this Bird are of a Bright 
Red.” This is quite a good figure of the pied oyster catcher, 
Haematopus osiralegus. Fig. 5.— Dsecription : " A Noddy of N. 
Holland, P85 A 99.” See description further on in the narrative. 
“ The Land- Animals that we saw here were only a Sort of 
Raccoons, different from those of the West Indies, chiefly as to 
their Legs ; for these have very short Fore- Legs ; but go jumping 
upon them as the others do (and like them are very good Meat).” 
[This description, often claimed as the first account of the kan- 
garoo, and by Dampier’s editor, Masefield, said “ more likely to 
have been the kangaroo-rat,” is obviously that of the banded 
hare-wallaby, Lagostrophus fasciatus, as was pointed out by Peron, 
who named it and gave such a delightful description of its habits. 
The bands on the fur would naturally recall the raccoon, with 
which Dampier was familiar from his long residence in the Spanish 
Main.] “ And a sort of Guano’s, of the same Shape and Size 
with other Guano's, but differing from them in 3 remarkable 
Particulars : For these had a larger and uglier Head, and had no 
Tail : And at the Rump, instead of the Tail there, they had a 
Stump of a Tail, which appeared like another Head ; but not 
really such, being without Mouth or Eyes: Vet this Creature 
seem’d by this Means to have a Head at each End ; and, which 
may be reckon'd a fourth Difference, the Legs also seem’d all 
4 of them to be Fore-legs, being all alike in Shape and Length, 
and seeming by the Joints and Bending to be made as if they 
were to go indifferently either Head or Tail foremost. They were 
speckled black and yellow like Toads, and had Scales or Knobs 
