Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 1 (1897).djvu/323

Rh and some pretty little beetles were found by examining flowers; while the dead shells of a small, but rather handsome Bulimus, B. onslowi, Cox, were plentifully scattered over the sand, though no living examples could be found. The southern part of Dirk Hartog Island has, I believe, been occupied as a sheep-run, but the northern half is marked "uninhabited" on the chart; and indeed it seemed to me as if no human being had ever set foot on this desolate shore. In accordance with a standing order of the ship, I carried a navy revolver for defence against possibly hostile natives, but here at any rate it seemed somewhat unnecessary.

After walking along the top of the cliff for nearly a mile, I saw the recall-flag hoisted on board the ship, and repaired without further delay to the boat; and the wind having moderated a good deal, we left our anchorage in the afternoon for Geraldton, in Champion Bay. On getting through the "Naturaliste Channel," between Dirk Hartog and Dorre Islands, into the open ocean, we found the breeze still very strong and dead against us, and a heavy head sea developed the capacity of the 'Penguin' for pitching and rolling to its utmost extent. The next two days were uncomfortable enough, as, although the weather was fine and bright, the southerly gale was as strong as ever, and all the steam-power which we could obtain with the detestable Australian coal we had on board did not suffice to force the ship against the head sea in the direction of Champion Bay. On the morning of the 16th it became evident that, under the present circumstances, our remaining supply of coal would not be sufficient to enable us to visit that port and go on thence to Fremantle; so our course was altered for the Houtman's Abrolhos, to which we were now quite close, and where it was proposed to remain until the weather moderated. Towards noon the northern outhers of this little archipelago of islets and coral-reefs were sighted, and soon afterwards we were snugly at anchor, in smooth water about a mile from the shore, under the lee of East Wallaby Island.

Although I regretted that our visit to Champion Bay, where I had expected to meet with many fine beetles and other insects, had to be postponed, if not altogether abandoned, I was by no means sorry that this opportunity had occurred of landing upon one of these remote and even now little-known islands. In many