Page:Narrative of a survey of the intertropical and western coasts of Australia, Volume 2.djvu/185

 264 ;RVEY OF THE INTERTROPICAL lssg garoo were every where .abundant,. but the ani- .J. 14. mah were not seen. We walked to the east- eramost of the lakes which-the French named "Etarig, Duvaiida/ly," and Which M. de Frey- cinet'remarks as being' surroundeel by an exten- sive beach, composed entirely of bivalve shells, a species of cavdiura: the quantity was indeed extraordinary. The banks were frequented by gulls and sand.pipers, of which many were shotl The water was found to be perfectly salt, and from the circumstance of its rising and falling with the tide, it:must have some communication with the Sea. The rocks of the island are principally calcareous, and in a very advanced state of de- composition. The beaches were covered with dead shells of the genera bucdnum, bu//, murex, trobht, and liotis; but we found none with the living'animal in them. Of the feathered tribe, a hawk and a pigeon were the only land- birds seen; but boobies, terns, and sand-pipers were very numerous about the shores. Mr. Cunningham was fully employed during the short 'time that we were on shore, and, excepting the pleasing interest created in our minds by landing on an island which has been so seldom before seen, and which from Viaming's account bears a prominent place in the history of this part of the coast, he was the only one of the party

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