Viewing page 39 of 78
This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.
72 North of Columbia - Feb'y 27th Today I went with Mr H to the north or weather beach of Cape Disappointment. The ridge between is about two miles wide & of not very high. At its exposed side are several caverns formed by the seas into one of which we went about 80 ft. The rock was a dark & crumbling kind like coal but not marking. I preserved specimens of each variety- In one I saw the skeletons of two Robin & Varied thrush which had died of cold. Also a large nest containing shells & bones perhaps built by the white head eagle. The beach is broad & sandy with a heavy surf rolling on it, the shore covered by logs. The only shells seen were a species of Solen Some Casdia & the Mytilus. Shot two species of Tringa which have nearly the same habits, flying in large flocks of 2-300 & running in the edge of the receding waves for their food. Saw also a flock of 50 gulls all the large species and some others flying about singly - Saw a middle sized hawk, catching the sandpipers & also a butcher bird which I could not get a shot at - [[end page]] [[start page]] 73 We walked along the beach for about four miles to a farmers house. The edgeing of the sea was nearly straight to this place & some miles beyond can be seen the end of this Peninsula and the point of Cape Shoalwater. For 2 or 3 miles from the beach is a low prairie tract with scattered groves of spruce &c and several lakes of small size. Returning met a pair of Eagles & killed one which is of much larger size than the Wack Eagle skinned on the 18th ult - differing also in the brown color of the plumage (young) Found in its stomach a ducks bone & some parasitic worms - Since the last date there has been a severe storm from the SE with high wind rain & hail. Today it is very changeable weather the sun shining out at intervals. March 2nd Yesterday I walked round a small lake a distance of about 5 miles but got no specimens. Saw the Painted thrush again - & a few ducks - Pintail - Today shot a Sea duck, a species common here now. While wounded three young Eagles pursued it. To day it has not rained but it poured hard yesterday & last night
