Mr. Bynoe was not fortunate enough to add to his collection of birds; those he observed being only doves and parrots, besides a flycatcher common to parts of the coast, and often before met with by us.

A couple of vampires of the larger and darker species were also seen, and numerous land shells (Helix) similar to those on Cape Upstart; found near the roots of trees, buried in the decayed vegetation.  Two old coconuts and large quantities of pumicestone were picked up on the south-east side of the island.  The prevailing character of the rocks was granitic, out of which some beautiful specimens of hornblende were procured.  The entire island was fringed with a narrow strip of coral, but I noticed none of it above high-water mark.

HOWICK GROUP.

July 4.

We took our departure at an early hour, and after running round to sketch the north-east side of the island, stood to the westward for Howick Group.  The weather being thick we did not discover the somewhat remarkable peak on Number 1, until we were close to it.  Our progress was accelerated by a current running half a knot an hour, and finding the passage between Number 1 and 2 of Howick Group, much impeded by rocks, we hauled up between 2 and 3 isles, and on keeping away again West-North-West for Point Barrow, found ourselves close to a reef, almost dry, and extending nearly a mile further off the North-East side of Coles Island, than is laid down in the chart; thus contracting the channel between it and Number 4 island, to a space of not more than two miles.  When the course was shaped for Point Barrow, Noble Island, a very remarkable pyramidal-shaped rocky height, was a point on the port bow.  Its singular appearance makes it conspicuous amid the recollections of this part of the coast.

We now once more approached to within a distance of seven miles of the mainland, which presented to our view a low sandy shore, with a few remarkable hummocks rising over it, and somewhat high, broken, rocky land immediately behind.

CAPE MELVILLE.

Passing Point Barrow we anchored near the north end of a large reef, Cape Melville bearing West-North-West ten miles.  Here we felt a swell rolling in from seaward, and during the day there had been a current in our favour, of about a mile an hour.  From the haze on the horizon, noticed from this anchorage, as well as on passing Cape Melville, I believe the outer edge of the Barrier Reef to be not more than four or five leagues distant from the land.

Our attention had been previously directed by Captain King and others, to the singular appearance of the rocks on Cape Melville; indeed no one can pass this remarkable projection without being struck by the strange manner in which piles of reddish-coloured stones are scattered about in the utmost confusion, and in every possible direction over this high ridge.  I much regretted that on passing next morning there was no opportunity of landing to see the nature of this confused mass; judging, however, from the result of my examination of a similar appearance presented by Depuch Island on the north-west coast, I believe this point to be of volcanic origin.