116 THE A-ICTORIAX XATUEALIST. 



about a score and a half of eggs, but, unfortunately, the 

 majority were in an advanced state of incubation. A pair of 

 splendid sea eagles ( Haliaehis leucogaster) were soaring round. 

 Their eyrie was on an awkward headland. It was occupied by a 

 pair of fully-fledged young. Before the prizes could be secured 

 they took fright, and, scuttling out of the nest, disappeared 

 over the cliff. The huge nest contained remains of wallabies, 

 mutton and other birds, fish, &c. In an adjoining cliff two 

 young red-bills or sooty oystercatchers f Hocmatopus unicolor) 

 were then taken. They were downy, and very pretty, like black 

 puff balls. Brush-tailed wallaby ( Halmafuriis nalahatus) were 

 fairly numerous, and seemed chiefly to keep about the cliffs. It 

 was surprising how they managed to keep their foothold when 

 bounding along the steep declivities. One only was "bagged." 

 On returning to camp a very fine specimen of black snake 

 (Pseudechys porphyriacus) was captured unhurt. It measured 4 

 feet 7 inches. Having nothing to place the reptile in, the 

 " snake charmer" carried it to camp and securely fastened it up 

 in a box with the lizards. Lunch over, a rocky point was visited 

 for fish. En route, a member took a pair of little penguins 

 ( Eudyptiila miJiorJ. The fish caught were chiefly parrot or 

 butter fish, and a few leather-jackets ( Monacanthns hippocrepis). 

 They were a welcome addition to the larder. After tea the 

 campists again sallied out and caught a copper-headed snake 

 ( Hoplocephaliis stiperbusj, but were again without a receptacle 

 for its retention, so it was allowed its liberty till a more 

 convenient season. After a hot walk over the sand the Cape 

 proper was reached. Several birds were noted — namely, Pacific 

 gull (Lams PacificHsJ, a tern, gannet fSuIa Aiistralis), blue reef 

 heron fDerm'egretta jugulaiis), dottrels and black-cheeked 

 falcon (F. mclanogenys), &c. The Pacific gulls had their nests 

 on an inaccessible rock, and seemed to enjoy the futile 

 eftbrts of the campists to scale it. At dusk the mutton-birds 

 commenced to arrive in numbers — a curious sight. They were 

 flying in all directions, flapping along the ground, and croaking 

 and quarrelling in the holes. After tumbling into their network 

 of burrows in the dark, all the party were glad to reach camp 

 again. The following morning breakfast as usual very early. 

 The day was spent principally on the mutton-bird nurseries, 

 gathering eggs, which members of the party took from the 

 burrows by the aid of long hooked sticks. Two members 

 visited a swamp at some distance. They managed to shoot 

 only one rabbit, besides other "small deer." Others obtained 

 more sea gulls' eggs and young, while another section went 

 botanising and snake hunting, but only secured a few blue- 

 tongued lizards. The day's outing was again terminated by 



