CORAL ISLES 217 



were nesting on the islet, and but for evidence to the 

 contrary, might have been mistaken for two distinct 

 species. The white birds were conspicuous when 

 they flew from the She-oaks out to the brown reef, 

 where they resembled flakes of foam among the coral. 



A pair of White-bellied Sea Eagles [Haliasetus 

 leucogaster] had an eyrie in a Pisonia tree at the 

 eastern end of the islet. An eaglet gazed fiercely at 

 the naturalist w r ho climbed to the nest, and menaced 

 him with beak and claws. The ground beneath the 

 nest was strewn with the skeletons of sea snakes and 

 fishes; bird remains were lacking. We could not 

 ascertain whether the Sea Eagles preyed on Terns, 

 though their actions on several occasions were sus- 

 picious, and the Noddies scattered when they swooped 

 over the trees. 



Several Pied Bell-Magpies [Strepera graculina] 

 were constantly in the vicinity of our camp, and were 

 welcome visitors. Two Sacred Kingfishers [Halcyon 

 sanctus] were also friendly, and deigned to pick up 

 scraps thrown to them by the cook. Their nest was 

 near by, in a hollow limb of a Pisonia tree. These 

 bright birds had a favourite perch, the stake to which 

 our boat was moored, and one or other could be seen 

 upon it at intervals every day. While the storm was 

 raging on the night of our arrival two Kingfishers, 

 weary and bedraggled, flew on board the steamer, 

 and were captured. They seemed to be dazed, and 

 when brought ashore made no effort to fly for some 

 time. 



A nest of the Barred-shouldered Dove [Geopelia 

 humeralis] was found in a low bush, not far from the 

 Sea Eagles' tree. It contained two white eggs, from 

 which the female bird was flushed. I spent the best 

 part of a morning at the nest, endeavouring to photo- 

 graph the bird brooding; but she slipped from the 

 nest when the camera was erected about six feet 



