£S39] of the Peninsula of India. 65" 



This may have been the species figured in Gray and Hardwicke's Illus- 

 trations, but I did not succeed in obtaining a specimen. I frequently saw 

 it plunge completely under water (as the Osprey) and bear off a large 

 fish in its talons to some neighbouring eminence. 



Sub Genus HALLEETUS.-Sew Eagle. 



7. //. blagrus, Less. — F. blagrus, Shaw.— F.leucoaaster, Latb. — Aiglc 

 Ocea?iique, Temm. PI. Col. 49. — Grey backed Sea Eagle. 



The descriptions of this bird which I possess, are not very satis- 

 factory, but I have no doubt it is the bird named as above in Lesson 

 and Griffith's Cuvier. It is certainly not very common. I first 

 observed it sailing over the Chilka lake, at a considerable elevation, 

 from whence it made an unsuccessful swoop at a duck I shot. I 

 again saw it at Ponany, sitting sluggishly on the sandy beach close 

 to the sea, and again, near Calicut, saw a pair skimming very 

 closely over some low bushy ground. The stomach of the speci- 

 men I procured was empty. The fishermen at Ponany assert that it 

 lives chiefly on fish, and frequently carries one off from their boats or 

 nets. It doubtless, however, varies its food according to opportunity, 

 and like its European analogue the H. afbicilla, nothing may come 

 amiss to it. Its flight at first after rising is heavy, but when once fairly 

 on the wing easy and powerful, rising to a great height by large and 

 graceful sweeps. It agrees exactly with the characters of Haliceetus as 

 lately defined by Yarrell and Hodgson. This sub-genus, though not 

 admitted by Swainson, appears necessary to join Aquila and Pandiom 

 and may perhaps be marked as a sub-genus of the latter, leaning towards 

 it by its roughish soles, length of wings, which reach beyond the tail, 

 and festooned upper mandible. I add a brief description of my specimen. 

 Back and wings light blueish grey, occasionally tinted with brownish 

 ash. Quills and tail brownish black, the latter broadly margined with 

 white — rest of the body pure white; feathers of head and neck acuminat- 

 ed ; bill, horn colour; cere, yellowish ; legs, dirty yellowish-white ; hides, 

 brownish yellow. Length about 30 inches, wing to end of 3d quill 24 

 inches, tail 10 inches, tarsus 3^, middle toe and claw 4. 



8. H. Icthycetas, Horsf. 



I have not myself observed this species of marine Eagle, but it was 

 obtained by Mr. Elliot, in the Southern Mabratta country. It is 

 said to live upon fish, but not solely; in one specimen there was the 



