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inches from the praestomium. Another Annelid (species unknown)
was peculiar in having two long barb-like tentacles projecting backwards
from the under part of the head. On examining the proboscis
of the latter, while it was resting in sea-water in a glass
trough, Haswell noticed a number of singular bodies being extruded
from the mouth, which he eventually ascertained, to his great
astonishment, were the partially developed young of the worm.
One of the large Asterophytons which came up with the dredge
was seen to exhibit nodular swellings on several parts of the
arms, but principally at the points of bifurcation. Each of these
swellings was provided with one or more small apertures, and had
the general appearance of being a morbid growth. On incising
the dense cystwall a cavity was exposed, containing a tiny red
gastropodous mollusc (of the genus Stilifer), enveloped in a mass
of cheesy matter, which contained moreover one or two spherical
white pellets of (probably) fcecal matter. Haswell obtained about
a dozen specimens of the shell from a single asterophyton.
Port Denison is only forty miles to the northward of Port
Molle, so that we accomplished the passage in about six hours,
and before dusk took up a berth in the shallow bay about a mile
and a half from the shore, and. three-quarters from the end of a
long wooden pier, which was built some years ago in the vain hope
of developing the shipping trade of the port. The township of
“ Bowen ” is built on a larger scale than “ Gladstone ”— of which
we had such pleasant reminiscences— but did not appear to be in
a more flourishing condition, a “ gold rush ” further to the northward
having drawn off part of the population, and some of the
trade which had previously gone through the port. On the outskirts
of the town were some large encampments of the blacks,
who lived in a primitive condition, and afforded an interesting
study for an ethnologist. Like most of the Australian aborigines,^
their huQ were little better than shelter screens to protect them
from the wind and sun. In some instances the twigs on the lee
side of a bush, rudely interlaced with a few leafy boughs torn from
the neighbouring trees, afforded all the shelter that was required.
Both men' and women, especially the latter, seemed to be in a
filthy, degraded state. They had just received their yearly gifts
of blankets from the Queensland Government— I believe the only
return which they receive for the appropriation of their land. It
appears, however, that they do not much appreciate the donation,
for soon after the general issue many of the blankets are bartered
with the whites for tobacco and grog. Some of the young men
are really fine-looking fellows, and seemed to feel all the pride of
life and liberty as they strutted about encumbered with a variety
of their native weapons, among which I saw the nulla, waddy,
shield, huge wooden sword, spear without throwing-stick, and
different patterns of boomerangs. They are very expert in the use
of the latter. It was the first time that I had seen the boomerang
thrown, and I can safely say that its performances, when manipulated
by a skilful hand, fully realized my expectations. I noticed
that whatever gyrations it was intended to execute, it was always
delivered from the hand of the thrower with its concave side foremost—
a circumstance I was not previously aware of. Some of
the children were amusing themselves in practising the art, using
instead of the regular boomerang short pieces of rounded stick
bent to about the usual angle of the finished weapon ; and I was
surprised at noticing that even these rude substitutes could be
made to dart forward, wheel in the air, and return to near the
feet of the thrower. I had always imagined up to this time that
the flat surface was an essential feature in the boomerang.
The foreshore at low-water afforded us examples of a great
many flat Echinoderms of the genus Peronella, Starfishes of the
genus Aster acanthus, and Crustaceans of the genera Macrophthal-
inus, Matuta, Mycteris, etc. We made several hauls of the dredge
in four to five fathoms of water, obtaining a quantity of large
Starfishes and Gorgonias, and Crustaceans of the family Porcel-
lanida.
We left Port Denison on the 24th of May, and continued our
m . :