124 Mr. R. Hall on Birds 



It was built of dead twigs of the above tree, but was liucd 

 with green leaves of the Eucalypt near it. For comparison, 

 the dimensions were : breadth 16 inches, internal diameter 

 7 inches, depth of bowl about 1*5 inches, depth of the whole 

 solid tapering mass 5 inches ; ledges of nest narrow. There 

 were two fresh eggs. 13.10.90. Geraldton. 



2. Pandion leucocephalus. Osprcy. (IlalPs Key, 

 p. 5.) 



A. Nestling. Pelsart Group, Houtman's Abrolhos. 

 17.10.99. 



B. Nestling. Easter Group, Houtman's Abrolhos. 

 22.10.99. 



No descriptions have been published, to the best of my 

 knowledge, of the nestling of this species, and that given 

 for P. haliaetus in the British Museum Catalogue does not 

 agree with either of these specimens. In stage A the outer 

 toe was not reversible, giving the bird the appearance of three 

 toes in front and one behind. In B the outer toe was 

 reversible. 



A. Nestl'mg (about 7 days old). — Downy, save for imperfect 

 feathers upon the head, neck, lower fore-neck, both sides 

 of the median line of the mantle, tail, inner edge of each 

 wing, and region above the humerus. Except as regards the 

 head and hind-neck these are feeble. The feathers of 

 this stage would be replaced by quite another series before 

 the young left the nest. The plumage upon the head and 

 hind-neck is rufous buff, and upon the cheeks light rufous 

 buff; between the crown and cheeks, immediately behind the 

 eyes, is a conspicuous broad oblong line of black ; the chin, 

 throat, and the greater part of the lower fore-neck are sooty 

 brown, with rufous feathers appearing below the chin ; the 

 chest is sooty brown, between which and the throat is a 

 broad zigzag line of black featliers that are just bursting, 

 among which are a few of a like nature that are rufous ; the 

 breast is ruddy greyish white; the abdomen sooty brown, with 

 a circular featherless area half an inch in diameter ; while 

 parts of the flanks are greyish white. The dorsal surface is 



