Birds of the PIdUppiiie Islands. 215 



measurement of fallen trunks. For many days these birds 

 •were watched with longing eyes, for their great size on 

 the wing and strange wailing cry seemed to indicate some- 

 thing new and most desirable. At last one of Mr. White- 

 head-'s collectors succeeded in shooting the male,, which he 

 brought into camp. He had been fortunate enough to see 

 the bird perch ou one of the highest trees, and obtained a 

 chance of securing this much coveted prize. A well-directed 

 buck-shot entered the neck, and though it failed to bring the 



Fiff. 1. 





Pithecophagn jeffenji. Front view of head: -{g natural size. 



great Eagle down, rendered its escape almost impossible. To 

 give some idea of the height of the trees, we may add that 

 this man subsequently fired several times at the wounded 

 bird with number 4 shot, but when it was examined not one 

 of these pellets had penetrated the skin ! The Eagle was 

 eventually secured by the native, who climbed the tree and 

 unloosed its powerful claws, which were still clinging to the 

 branches. Mr. AVhitehead says that it weighed between 



