10 BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 



Sub-Order — Pandiones : Ospreys. 



WHITE-HEADED OSPEEY 

 (Pandion leucocephalus, Gould). 



Male. — Head and back of the neck white, a few of the feathers 

 streaked with brown ; rest of the upper surface dark brown ; under 

 surface white, the feathers of the chest and flanks marked with 

 reddish-brown. " Length, 21 to 24 in. ; wing, 19 in. ; tail, SJ in." 

 (A. J. Campbell). 



Female. — Similar in plumage. 



Nestling. — "Covered with down of a sooty-brown colour, except 

 along the centre of the back, along the carpal bend of the wing, 

 and on the breast and flanks, where it is dusky -white; all the 

 feathers of the back are dark brown, with a broad tip of ochraceous- 

 buff; crown and ear coverts blackish; eyebrow and throat white" 

 (Dr. E. B. Sharpe). 



Nest. — ^An immense structure of sticks; the shallow nesting 

 hollow is lined with seaweed. An inaccessible rook on the coast 

 or on an island is usually chosen. 



Eggs. — Clutch three to four ; in shape roundish oval; shell some- 

 what granulated ancl without lustre; colour bufiy or yellowish- 

 white, usually heavily blotched with dark purplish-brown, espec- 

 ially about the apex. Dimensions in mm. of odd examples: — (1) 

 61 X U, (2) 60 X 42. 



Breeding Season. — July to November. 



Geographical Distribution. — Tasmania, Australian coast gene- 

 rally, Moluccas, and New Guinea. 



Observations. — The Eish-Hawk, as it is frequently called, found 

 in Tasmanian and Australian waters is a sub-species of the one 

 ranging over a wide area in the Old World. Our species is slightly 

 the smaller of the two. 



Gould records having shot one in Eecherche Bay, but as far 

 as Tasmanian waters are concerned, it is principally to be found 

 about the numerous islets studding Bass Strait. Only an occa- 

 sional solitary bird, or a pair at most, is to be seen at any time. 



Sub-Order — Striges : Owls. 



FAMILY— BUBONID/E (1 species). 



Sub- Family — Buboninae. 



*SPOTTED OWL 

 (Ninox maculata, Vig. & Horsf.) 

 Male. — Whole of the upper surface, including head, dark 

 reddish-brown, with numerous white spots ; under surface reddish- 

 brown, heavily spotted with white ; bill dark horn colour ; feet 



