ami oil cat'll foot it has three very 
strong claws an inch long, ami two about 
a quarter of an inch. On the hind 
leet it has the same number, but they 
resemble more the thumb and fingers 
of a hand, except that the fore claw 
is the longest and curved. The eyes 
are remarkably small and He just 
above the 'beak. It has no tail, but a 
rump not unlike that of a penguin, on 
which are some quills about an inch 
long, as strong, and as like those of a 
porcupine. These quills, or prickles, 
are all over its back amidst a thick 
coat of rusty brown hair: tout the belly 
is of a light greyish colour. The skin 
is remarkably white.’* The description 
is of interest, because it is the first 
record we have of the capture in Tas¬ 
mania of a specimen of the Monotremata, 
the strange class of egg-laying mammals 
found only in the Australian r.oogeo- 
graphicnl province. 
Owing to the settlement which has 
taken place in the locality, many aperies 
have become rare, or have departed 
altogether for less frequented portions 
of the island. Hardly any of the large 
marsupials were seen. As regards tile 
reptilian fauna, the most noticed member 
was the tiger snake i Voteehis seutatus). 
a species which always has attention pa d 
to it. even from those who are not in¬ 
terested from the biological standpoint. 
Numbers of small lizards (Lygosomi) 
were also observed. 
The bird life was not noted for its 
variety. I Inneyeaters (Meliphagidae; 
were common, and the notes of the 
wattle-birds were always heard amid the 
canksias around the camp. Apart 
from oral evidence, the most <<1111111011 
representative of the above-mentioned 
family, appeared to he the orescent 
honey-eater (I- australasiana). Occasion- 
la small flocks of the green parrot 
(1’. flaviventris) were also seen, as well 
as other members of the Psittacidae. 
The homely robins (Petroica) were in 
evidence as usual, as well as the blue 
wrens (Ualurus). Around the shores, 
the ever present silver gull (U novae- 
hollandiae) was to he seen in docks, 
together with a few Pacific gulls 
10. paeiticus). Kit her resting on the 
rocks or fishing in the bay, several 
species of cormorants (Phalaorocora- 
cidae) could always he observed, whilst 
overhead a pair of sea eagles (H. leu- 
eogaster) patrolled the arc of the bay 
in search of such food as had been thrown 
up on the shore. Further out the 
gannetn. (S. fi.ustralis) wheeled aloft and 
dived with great force in pursuit of 
fish, and the small penguins (Kdyptula) 
swam about in search of minor fly. 
Many other forms were seen, and 
specimens were secured of some inter¬ 
esting examples of the lower orders, but 
in an outline account sui'h as this space 
prohibits a detailed description. 
THE REMAINS OF “CAPTAIN COOK’S TREE” AT ADVENTURE BAY. 
<,u<- 
3 1 
