124 Mr. R. HaXl oti Birds 
It was built of dead twigs of the above tree, but was lined 
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. Osprey. (HalPs Key, 
p. 5.) 
A. Nestling. Pelsart Group, Houtmau^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. Nestling (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 feathers 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 
