Natural History--Extracts from the Journal of Captain Denham, H.M. Surveying Vessel 'Herald,' 1857. Communicated by Captain WASHINGTON, through the Secretary. [Read June 3rd, 1858.] We found upon the larger islands the small species of the Kangaroo, bearing the native name Wallaby (_Halmaturus Billardierii_), which, when mixed with other meats, affords a fine-flavoured soup. On the islets are flocks of the Cape Banca goose, which Mr. Smith informed me were only to be found in these straits in the vicinity of Flinders Island, from Cape Banca to Cape Frankland (west about), and that they are readily domesticated, and hatch from three to seven eggs, and afford an acceptable dish. I obtained a live specimen, which Dr. Rayner of this ship describes thus:--"_Cereopsis Novae Hollandiae_. Body about the size of a common goose; bill short, vaulted, obtuse, two-thirds of which is covered by an expanded cere of a pale greenish-yellow colour, the tip of the bill being black, arcuated, and truncated. Nostrils large, round, open, and situated in the middle of the bill. Wings ample, third quill longest. Legs long, light dull-red, and naked to a little above the knee. Feet black, webbed, the membrane being deeply notched, great toe articulated to the metatarsus. Plumage slate-grey, with black spots upon the wings and back. Wing-feathers dusky black, and edged at the tip with pale grey. Irides light hazel." We likewise obtained specimens of the following wildfowl:-- AVES. A BRONZE-WING PIGEON, Phaps elegans. QUAIL, Corturnix pectoralis (_Gould_). OYSTER-CATCHER, Haematophus fuliginosus. RING PLOVER, Hiaticula bicincta. WILD DUCK, Anas punctata (_Cuvier_). GREAT GULL, Larus pacificus. LESSER GULL, Xema Jamesonii. MUTTON BIRD, Puffinus brevicaudus (_Brandt_). SOUTHERN GANNET, Sulu australis (_Gould_). SMALL PENGUIN, Spheniscus minor (_Temminck_). The Mutton Bird we observed streaming from island to island; and I learnt from Mr. Benvenuto Smith the following particulars of its habits from his own observations. The male birds come in from sea in the month of September, and prepare the burrows for the reception of the hens. The hen bird does not make her appearance till about the 25th November, when she lays and sits at once. The Mutton Bird lays but one egg; they are employed rearing the young bird until the month of May, at which time the old birds leave the young ones to shift for themselves; the young birds remain in the burrows till they are starved down, and then set off to sea, and are not seen again amongst the islands till September. The cock and hen sit alternately night and day; and all the labour of providing for the young is equally shared. There are at this date about ninety people living on the small islands in "Franklin Inlet" who make a livelihood by gathering the oil, feathers, and eggs of the Mutton Bird.