Page:The Emu volume 21.djvu/399

 By A. F. BASSET HULL. C.F.A.O.U., Hon. Ornithologist Australian Museum, Sydney.

I. THE NARRATIVE.

The Archipelago of the Recherche lies between 121 deg. 30 min. and 124 deg. 10 min. E. long. There are about 100 islands in the group, and numerous rocks and shoals. It was named after one of the ships of the French explorer D'Entrecasteaux, and was surveyed in 1802 by Captain Matthew Flinders of the Investigator. H.M.Ss. Waterwitch (1897) and Penguin (1900) carried out more detailed surveys, and Admiralty charts were published in 1897 and corrected in 1901.

Some years ago I made inquiries as to the possible means of access to these islands, with a view to investigating the bird life thereon, but the quotations for transport were so high that the project was abandoned. In 1921 Mr. A. S. Le Souef made further inquiries in the same direction, his object being to secure some of the mammals known to inhabit the larger islands of the group. He collected a considerable amount of information, and obtained a quotation for a motor launch that appeared to be reasonable. However, other business calling him to Europe, he kindly handed the correspondence to me to make such use of it as I might think fit. One of the letters was from Mr. J. Wharton White, of Esperance, W.A., who stated that he had visited the Islands for over twenty years, putting sheep on and off. He gave an enthusiastic account of the plentiful and varied birds and animals to be found there, his list of the former including "Mutton Birds, Penguins, Gannets, two or three varieties; Red-bills (Oyster-catchers), Molly Hawks, Cape Barren Geese, two or three varieties of Quail, Mother Carey's Chickens, and a variety of small birds." He added, "The Penguins, Mutton Birds, and Mother Carey's Chickens nest in the ground, digging holes like small rabbit holes from a foot to two feet deep." This list, and the biological details as to the nesting habits of the three burrowing birds, made most attractive reading, and I determined to visit the islands, if possible. I therefore submitted the matter to Mr. H. L. White, of "Belltrees," N.S.W., who at once offered to find the funds for the expedition. He also agreed to allow two representatives of the Australian Museum to have passage in the motor launch.

On the 5th November last, accompanied by Mr. Henry Grant, Taxidermist at the Australian Museum, I left Sydney by the s.s. Katoomha for Albany, where we were to meet Mr. Wright, Assistant Taxidermist at the same institution, at that time on an expedition to the Nullarbor Plain, on the Transcontinental