116 
the shoals at the entrance of the Eastern (Kalgan) River weighed 
twenty-two pounds and a-half, and was three feet and a-half 
long.” 
“Excepting the sea-fowl, which consisted of geese, wild ducks, 
teals, curlews, divers, sea-pies, gulls, and terns, very few birds were 
seen, and those chiefly of the parrot and cockatoo tribe ; a species of 
the latter was noticed of a rich black plumage, and very like the 
black cockatoo of New South Wales. Kangaroos from their traces 
must be numerous, but only a very few were noticed; the only 
reptile that was found was a black snake, which Mr. Cunningham 
saw for a moment as it glided past him.” 
“A little without the east entrance of the harbour we saw one 
of those prodigious large nests which Captain Flinders observed 
near Point Possession; it was built on the summit of an almost in- 
accessible rock, exposed to the S.W. winds; it measured four feet 
in diameter at the top, and nearly seven feet at the base; it ap- 
peared to have been deserted for some time, as the branches and 
sea-weed, with which it was made, were strewed about the rock. 
Captain Flinders thought it probable that the inhabitant was an 
eagle; but on our subsequent visit to King George's Sound in 1821, 
we saw the same nest occupied by a hawk of moderate size.” 
On leaving King George's Sound the expedition proceeded 
round the Leeuwin and up the west coast but did not see land again 
till February 10, 1818, in the neighbourhood of the North-West 
Cape. “We were no sooner under the lea of the land,” says King, 
“than the air, before of a pleasant and a moderate temperature, 
became so heated as to produce a scorching sensation; and to raise 
the mercury in the thermometer from 79deg. to 89deg. We were 
also assailed by an incredible number of flies and other insects, 
among which was a beautiful species of libellula. The sea swarmed 
with turtles, sea-snakes, and fish of various sorts; and the dolphin 
was eminently conspicuous for its speed, and the varied beauty of 
its colours.” 
From this date until March 6 the “Mermaid” Avas engaged in 
surveying the coast between the North-West Cape and Depuch 
Island, including Exmouth Gulf, the Dampier Archipelago, and 
Nickol Bay. 
The only evidences of mammals were the bones of kangaroos 
seen round the fire-places of the natives. “The impression of what 
appeared to have been an emu's foot was noticed upon the sand, 
there is reason, however, to think we may have been deceived; we 
never afterwards saw one of those birds on the north coast.” Peli- 
cans and curlews were very numerous, some shoals between Legendre 
and Gidley Islands were covered with immense flights of pelicans 
and other water-fowl. On Lewis Island was observed one of those 
immense nests that were seen at King George's Sound, the base of 
which measured seA^en feet in diameter. 
