6 BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 



*WHITE-BELLIED SEA-EAGLE 

 {Haliaetus leucogaster, Gm.) 



Male. — "Entire head and neck, with the entire under surface, 

 lesser under wing coverts, under tail coverts, and terminal 3J in. 

 of the tail, pure white; interscapular region, back, and rump dark 

 cinereous-grey, becoming darker on the upper tail coverts, the 

 white feathers at the lower part of the hind-neck with dark shafts, 

 and the grey hue appearing lower down on each side of them ; wing 

 coverts, scapulars, and tertials bluish slate colour, with dark 

 shafts ; quills and basal portion of the tail blackish-cinereous ; under 

 \^■ing coverts and flank feathers with black shafts. Length to 

 front of cere, 25.2 to 26.5 in. ; culmen from cere, 1.98 to 2.0; wing, 

 21. -2 to •2-2.5; expanse, 71.5 to 78.0; tail, 10.0; tarsus, 3.4 to 3.8" 

 (Col. Legge). 



Female. — Plumage similar to male. " Length to front of cere, 

 27.0 to 27.75 in.; culmen from cere, 2.1; wing, 22.5 to 24.0; 

 expanse, 79 to 80.1; tarsus, 4.0" (Col. Legge). 



Young. — "Head buff; upper surface and wings chocolate- 

 brown; chest and abdomen buff-brown" (E. Hall). 



A splendid description of the young of this Eagle, from the 

 unfledged nestling onwards, may be found in Col. Legge 's " Birds 

 of Ceylon," page 68. 



Nest. — A large structure of sticks, usually situated on an 

 isolated rock or in a lofty tree near the coast. 



Eggs. — Clutch two usually; oval in shape and coarse of tex- 

 ture ; somewhat granulated and faintly glossy ; colour dull white, 

 frequently with brownish stains. Dimensions in mm. of a clutch : 

 —(1) 71 X 52, (2) 70 X 51. 



Breeding Season. — August and September. 



Geographical Distribtdion . — Tasmania, Australia, Malay Archi- 

 pelago, Philippines, Northern India, Ceylon, Cape of Good Hope. 

 Friendly Islands, and several other groups of islands scattered 

 about the Pacific Ocean. 



Observations. — So far as my observations go, and from the 

 reports of those who know the coast well, this magnificent bird 

 mostly frequents the north and east coasts from Low Head to Cape 

 Pillar. At one or two places along the east coast it is fairly plenti- 

 ful, but very shy. 



Sub- Family— Falcohinae. 



BLACK-CHEEKED FALCON 

 (Falco melanogenys, Gould). 

 Male.—" Head, entire sides of the face, cheeks, and ear-coverts 

 deep black ; upper surface blackish-brown ; quills blackish, the outer 

 secondaries with white tips; throat creamy; upper breast creamy. 



