236 
Of the nidification of the Australian form of this bird, which, 
after comparison of several specimens, appears to me identical 
with our Indian race, Mr. Gould furnishes the following par- 
ticulars: ‘ The nest being of great size, is a very conspicuous 
object ; it is composed of sticks varying from the thickness of a 
finger to that of the wrist and lined with the softer kinds of 
sea-weed. It is usually placed on the summit of a rock, but 
is sometimes constructed on the top of a large Eucalyptus, 
always in the vicinity of water. A nest observed by Gilbert 
in Rottnest Island, measured fifteen feet in circumference. 
“The eges are two in number, of a yellowish white, boldly 
spotted and blotched, with deep rich reddish brown, which 
colour, in some specimens, is so dark as to be nearly black, other 
specimens, again, are clouded with large blotches of purple, 
which appears as if beneath the surface of the shell. The 
medium length of the eggs is two inches and five lines, and 
the breadth one inch and nine lines.” 
The Osprey is found throughout the lower ranges of the 
Himalayas, in the rocky gorges of all the larger streams, and 
along the course of the Ganges and the Jumna, from their mouths 
almost to their sources. I have from time to time observed it 
in the Cawnpoor, Etawah, Agra and Allyghur districts. I 
met with it also on the Sutledge, at the Sambhur Lake, and 
the Nujjufgurh jheel, and I recently shot a very fine one close 
to Saharunpoor, on the Western Jumna Canal. Mr. Brooks 
says, that this species is ‘common on the river Tonse, also 
inland in the Mirzapoor district where there are jheels and 
tanks. I shot one at night off a post in the middle ofa tank.” 
Though thus widely distributed, this species is nowhere I 
believe in India numerically abundant. 
Out of India, this species (or very closely allied representative 
races) is found throughout the greater portion of the globe. 
As to the specific identity of the various races of the Fish 
Hawk, Mr. Gurney, our greatest living authority in such matters, 
remarked in the Ibis for 1868: 
“The Norwich Museum possesses an extensive series of 
Ospreys from various parts of the world, and I have no hesita- 
tion in expressing my belief that the species is identical not 
only on the coasts of North America, and of Kurope, but also 
on those of Africa, Asia and Australia.” 
I subjoin measurements, &c., of a fine female, killed near 
Saharunpoor on the 7th November. Length, 21:15. Expanse, 
0°65. Weight in tbs. 2°69. Wing, 19; the third primary the 
longest, the first primary falls short of the longest by 2°6; the 
