AN EAGLE SHOT. 19-5 



miles in a northerly direction, from the western 

 point of Collier Bay. Whilst using the theodolite, 

 we came within the searching glance of a hungry 

 eagle, which soaring over our heads for some time, 

 at length swooped within range of our guns, when 

 he paid for his curiosity with the loss of his life. 

 This was the only rapacious bird we saw in Collier 

 I>ay,and appears to be of the species i^aZco lencogaster 

 Latham.* On examination, the stomach contained 

 fish and part of a small snake, and from what I 

 have since observed this bird frequents the sea 

 coast. Their nests are very large, built on bare spots 

 in the shape of a pyramid ; some of them measuring- 

 three feet in diameter, and six high. To convoy a 

 better idea of the size and exposed situation of 

 the nests of these birds, I may state that on low 

 parts of the coast, they were often used as sur- 

 veving marks. This projection, which we called 

 Eagle Point, is of a silicious sandstone formation, 

 intersected by nearly vertical veins of quartz, and 

 forms a spur thrown off from a high range four 

 miles to the south-eastward. We did not find any 

 water in the few miles of country traversed in 

 the course of the afternoon, yet everything wore a 

 rich green appearance, and the scenery in some of 

 the dells we crossed, was very picturesque, and quite 

 alive with birds and insects ; flights of many- 

 coloured parrokeets swept by with a rapidity that 



* Figured in Mr. GouliVs work on the Birds of Australia as 

 Ickthyiactus Jeiicogaster. 



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