259 
grey, and more or less finely mottled with whitish. The lower 
parts may be described as brownish white, longitudinally 
streaked with dark brown, there being a lanceolate patch of the 
latter on each feather ; the lower wing coverts and feathers of 
the legs dark brown; the lower surface of the quills bluish 
grey; the lower tail coverts white, tipped with brown; the 
down on the breast pure white. 
Remarks. In this species, the bill and iris change from 
dusky brown to pale yellow, and the plumage, at first 
white at the base, and dark brown at the end, gradually loses 
its white, while the dark parts become paler and more extended, 
the final colouring being more uniform. 
The tail forms no exception, for its basal white also dimi- 
nishes; but the white which is gradually substituted for the 
brownish black, spreads from near the end to the base.” 
43. Cuncuma Leucogaster, GMEL. 
THe WuitE-BeEeLLieD SrA HAGLE. 
Dr. Jerdon’s description of the soft parts of this Hagle, hardly 
corresponds with those of other authorities. He gives the 
irides, brownish yellow, the cere, pale greenish yellow, and the 
legs, dirty white. Mr. Wallace (Ibis 1868) gives the “ Bill, 
black, base and cere, lead colour; feet, very pale yellow; iris 
olive brown. Length, 26 to 29 inches.” 
Mr. Gould again, in his hand-book to the birds of Australia, 
p. 16, says that, ‘the cere, lores and horny space over the eye, 
are bluish lead colour, slightly tinged with green, and the legs 
and feet yellowish white.” 
I have never killed this bird myself, nor found its nest; Dr. 
Jerdon tells us that they breed at Pigeon Island, (thirty miles 
or so south of Honawr, on the western coast), in December, 
January, and February, and my friend Mr. H. R. P. Carter, 
has verified this observation, through a correspondent, and, I 
believe, procured eggs thence, but I have not yet received these. 
Mr. Gould (loc. cit) has the following interesting remarks, on 
the breeding of this species. 
“With regard to the nidification of the white-bellied Sea 
Hagle, I could not fail to remark how readily the birds accommo- 
date themselves to the different circumstances in which they 
are placed ; for while, on the mainland, they invariably construct 
their large flat nest on a fork of the most lofty trees, on the 
islands, where not a tree is to be found, it is placed on the flat 
surface of a large stone, the materials of which it is formed, 
