28 Australian Birds in 1697 



approximately that of False Entrance. On the ist of February 

 the pilot of the Geehink left the ships in one of the Geehink's 

 boats in order to ascertain the position of Dirk Hartog's Anchor- 

 age, and the captains of two of the vessels made an excursion for 

 a distance of six or seven miles inland. They returned to the 

 ships on the following day, bringing with them the head of a 

 large bird, and they imparted the information that they had seen 

 two huge nests built of branches.* 



The pilot of the Geehink returned to the ship on the 3rd of 

 February, and reported that he had passed through a channel — 

 probably that which is now known as South Passage — and had 

 followed the coast of Dirk Hartog's Island until he reached the 

 northern extremity of the island. There, upon an acclivity, a tin 

 plate was found on the ground. Certain words scratched upon 

 the metal indicated that the ship Eendragt^ of Amsterdam, of 

 which Dirk Hartog was master, had anchored oiF the island on 

 the 25th of October, 161 6, and had departed for Bantam on the 

 27th day of the same month. The pilot brought the metal plate 

 — a flattened tin dish — with him, and also two turtles which had 

 been caught on the island. The squadron anchored in Dirk 

 Hartog's Reede on the 4th of February, and remained there until 

 the 1 2th day of that month. 



The anonymous author of the Journaal relates that on the 

 6th of February many turtles were seen, and also a very large 

 nest at the corner of a rock ; the nest resembled that of a stork, 

 but was probably that of an osprey, which places its nest on a 

 rock — often on a rock surrounded by water. 



De Vlaming quitted the Australian coast at 21° S. lat., and 

 proceeded to liatavia, where he arrived on the 20th of March, 

 1697. 



* Wedge-tailed Eagles and also Osprcys build nests of sticks. 



I 



