Page:The Emu volume 21.djvu/410

 birds were singularly shy, considering that this island is not visited for years at a stretch.

Traps were set for mammals, and further patches of scrub were entered, but no other birds were seen. On the rocks near the shore a pair of Sooty Oyster-catchers were visible, and three Pacific Gulls hovered about. Numerous broken shells of the common Turbo and the large Limpet showed where they got their principal food supply. These birds were very curious, flying round and settling near our camp, but they were extremely suspicious. A piece of meat was thrown out on the rocks, and they circled round it for hours, occasionally dipping as if to pick it up, but sheering off again as if they suspected some trap. It was still untouched when we left the island. During the night Wright went round his traps and along the edge of the scrub with an acetylene "jacklight," but did not see any of the tamar wallaby said to be so numerous on the island. In the morning the traps were untouched except one which contained a rat. Two small snakes were captured when fixing up the camp, and lizards were numerous; we saw no death adders. Other colonies of Fleshy-footed Petrels were examined, and a few eggs taken; many burrows were empty. Two specimens of the Green-backed White-eye were taken, and a number of old nests of the Singing Honey-eater were found in the scrub. Jones brothers called for us about midday, and we returned to Lucky Bay, passing close to Rob Island, which lies to the east of the bay. There were about fifty seals visible on this island, and a pair of Cape Barren Geese, but the surge was too heavy to permit of landing.

Mr. J. T. Tunney collected for the Perth Museum on Mondrain some years ago. Our boatmen took him there, left him for a week, and brought him back to Esperance. He captured a variety of wallaby there, but I have not been able to find any record of the birds he discovered. One might easily spend a week on this island, and then not exhaust all its possibilities, but it is more than doubtful whether the reward would be commensurate with the trouble. So many times have fires been put through the scrub that only such persistent birds as the Mutton Birds could survive.

During our visit to Mondrain. Grant had walked over to Mississippi Bay, but found little of interest. On December 5th it rained nearly all day, but I went westward to Thistle Cove in the hope of locating the Bristle Bird, but without success. Wright and Grant revisited Mississippi Bay, and observed the Spotted Scrub-Wren (Sericornis maculata), the White- faced Ternlet and Hooded and Red-capped Dotterels) Charadrius cucullatus and C. ruficapillus), and the White-bearded Honeyeater. They were not successful in getting any wallaby, although some were seen in the distance. On the 6th we left Lucky Bay and beat out to Rob Island. The sea was very heavy, and after repeated attempts, Wright managed to jump ashore and keep his feet, while Grant passed over his rifle and ammunition. He explored the