an area of sixteen square miles for their nests, at a yard asunder. From what is now known of their breeding places, they probably occupy a much larger extent of ground than sixteen square miles, in the various places of their resort.
18th. Yesterday was stormy, and the wind adverse: W. J. Darling brought four Aborigines on board, to accompany him to the Hunter Islands. The vessel remaining at anchor to-day, we went again upon Green Island, which has several small sandy bays.—When the Mutton-birds take flight, they either rise from elevated places, or from the edge of the cliff, or they run over the beach and upon the water, flapping their wings, till at length, after passing two or three considerable waves, they succeed in gaining sufficient elevation to enable them to mount into the air.
The four Aborigines took tea with us in the cabin: they were very cheerful, and used cups and saucers with dexterity.—When Jumbo first came on board, she was shown a musical box, constructed like a musical snuff-box. Having been brought up among Europeans, she did not feign inattention to novelties, as is common with her country people, but showed pleasure and astonishment, in a remarkable degree. Listening with intensity, her ears moved like those of a dog or horse, to catch the sound (a circumstance that J. Munro, with whom she had lived from childhood, said he had not before noticed) and at intervals she laughed immoderately.—When on the island one of the women threw some sticks at J. Thornloe, on his mentioning her son, who is at school at Newtown. The mention of an absent relative is considered offensive by them, and especially if deceased.
19th. We sailed from Green Island, and put J. Munro on shore on Preservation Island. The tide-ripple, which is occasioned by the meeting of different currents, is very strong in many parts of the straits; it threatened to swallow up the boat in returning from Preservation. Many voices called to the man who was in it, not to be afraid, saying there was no danger, while the faces of the same parties betrayed their own fears: he, however, succeeded in reaching the vessel, amidst tremendous billows, which were so high
