OWLS AND DIURNAL BIRDS OF PREY. 351 
narrow dark shaft-lines; the back and wings are dark ash 
colour tinged with brown ; wing quills and base of tail blackish ; 
outer third of tail white. 
In young birds the head, neck, and lower parts are pale 
tawny or rufous ; the breast is darker ; the upper plumage is 
brown, many of the feathers with pale edges ; the tail feathers 
are whitish with brown ends, which are narrowly tipped with 
white. 
Bill dark leaden ; cere paler; iris hazel-brown ; legs and 
feet whitish. 
Male : length 27°50; wing 22; tail 10; tarsus 3°6; mid- 
toe without claw 2°3; bill from gape 2°25. Females are 
slightly larger. 
Distribution Not uncommon round the coast, except 
from Chilaw to Galle, where it is local. Jt is also found on 
the large inland tanks. It occurs on the shores of the Indian 
Ocean, from Bombay to the Malay Archipelago, and ranges 
into Australasia. 
Habits, &-c.—The birds live in pairs and reside year after 
year in the same place, hunting along the coast, lagoons, or 
tanks in the vicinity of their eyrie. Their food consists 
mainly of fish, sea-snakes, crabs, &c., but they will also on . 
occasion seize wounded wild birds or young chickens. 
The nest is a huge structure of sticks in a large tree, and 
is used year after year. The breeding season is early in the 
year. ‘Two eggs are generally laid on a lining of green leaves. 
They are dull white with a green inner texture, and measure 
about 2°85 by 2° 10. 
PoLioAETUS ICHTHYAEHTUS (Blanford, Vol. II1., p. 370 ; 
Legge, p. 72). 
The Large Gray-headed Fishing Eagle. 
Description.—Forehead whitish ; the head, upper part of 
hind-neck, and throat ashy-gray ; crown and nape brownish ; 
back, wings, rump, upper tail coverts, and a broad band at the 
end of the tail dark brown ; breast and flanks rather lighter 
brown than the back ; abdomen and basal two-thirds of the 
tail pure white. 
