.VESTS A.VD EGGS OF AUSTKALIAN BIKDS. 



41 



seaweed. Usual situation an inaccessible rock or island, but low timber 

 ncai- water is sometimes chosen. 



AVi/*- — Clutch, three to foui-; shapely or roimdish oval in 

 form ; texture of shell, somewhat gi'aunlated, surface of soft appear- 

 ance and usually lustreless ; ground-colour, bully or yellowish-white. 

 In three examples of a splendid set taken from an aerie near the mouth 

 of the Margaret River (W.A.), the marlrings are mostly large and bold 

 blotches of rich, dark, purplish-brown, more numerous about the upper 

 half of the ogg, and foniiing a large confluent patch almost black on the 

 apex ; while the fourth egg is not so heavily blotched, the markings of 

 pinkish-brown, intermingled with dull piu^ile, being lighter and more 

 evenly chstributed over the sui-face ; inside lining of the shell, when held 

 up to the hght, dull yellowish-gieen. Dimensions in inches : (1) 2'48 x Vll , 

 (2) 2-44 X 1-8, (3) 2-42 X 1-79, (4) 2-42 x 1-74. (Plate o.) 



Observations. — The Osprey in maturity is somewhat like the Sea Eagle, 

 with brownish coat and wliite imderneath parts, but in the Osprey the 

 white head is mottled with a few dark feathers and the chest with brown, 

 cere lead-colour, bill black, feet bliush-white, and bright eyes of yellowish- 

 orange. It is a smaller bird than the Sea Eagle, as the dimensions show — 

 Length, 21 to 24 inches; wing, 19 inches; tail, 8i inches. 



My only experiences with this expert Fishing Hawk were in Western 

 Austraha. With departing daylight we amve at Wallcliffe, the 



homestead of Mr. A. J. Bussell, on the Margaret River. By 



kind invitation we remain here a day, and I imjirove the occasion 

 by exploring for objects of interest, and am not disappointed. I 

 learn there is a Fish Hawk or Osprey 's nest a mile or so up the coast. 

 Ah! methinks, what a rare subject for the camera. Good-naturedly 



Mr. Bussell promises to pilot Mr. Mansfield and myself to the aerie in 

 the morning, and at the time appointed away we go joyfully. We are 

 suddenly confronted by the broad stream, seventy or eighty yards across, 

 of the Margaret River. " How are we to cross, Bussell ? " I inquire. 

 "Wade, of coiu'se," was the reply. "May I ask is it deep?" "Only up 

 to yovur armpits," was the anything but reassiuing answer ; and now 

 occurred to me the reason of Mr. Bussells thrusting a lowel into his 

 coat pocket before le;iving the house. However, there was no help for it. 

 Bussell soon led the way with his undergannents gathered under one arm, 

 his boots in his teeth, aud his unmentionables held high in the air with 

 the other hand. When Jlansfieldj who is shorter in stature, i-eaclies the 

 centre of the stream, there is scarcely anything visible except his broad- 

 brimmed straw hat of sombrero proportions. Oh, if I only had my camera 

 on shore, instead of upon my head, with these cooling waters lapping 

 around my ribs, what a comical pictiu'e I might have taken of the pair, 

 I thought. We are soon di'essed, and tearing over scrubby saudliills, 

 reaching the ocejiu just in time to see the steamer " South Australian ' 

 rolling by on a heavy swell. We roiuid a sharp corner, when Bussell 

 suddenly exclaims, " There s the Fish Hawk's nest ! " Sui-e enough it 

 was, and a very conspicuous object, built on a small isolated rock, with 

 the birds posing near. Bussell, who was fuller of actions than words, 



