FALCO ICHTHYiETUS. 



The pair of birds which I here obtained, had been carefully observed by the 

 natives of the village of Brambatan for several years. Their cry resembled that of 

 the Osprey. They Uved exclusively on fishes, which they obtained abundantly out 

 of the lake above mentioned. They never attacked fowls or other animals. They 

 daily resorted to the lake, over which, suspended in the air, or sailing slowly along, 

 they watched their prey : on observing a fish, they darted on it with impetuous 

 velocity. More rarely they pursued a more passive conduct, and watched the lake 

 from the trees in its neighbourhood. The nest of this pair of birds had before my 

 arrival been repeatedly visited by the natives. The female was observed to lay two 

 eggs at a time, and the young birds were driven fi-om the neighbourhood as soon 

 as they were able to provide for themselves. In our Plate the Falco Ichthyastus 

 is represented very nearly one-third of the size of life. 



