I 



PLATE XLIII. 



GENUS HALIASTUR (Selby). 



nnHIS form is confined to India, the Indian Islands, and Australia. Two species are found in the 

 latter country. 



HALIASTUR LEUCOSTERNUS (Gould). 



WHITE-BREASTED SEA EAGLE. 



fl^HE Haliastur Leucosternus is found on the north and north-eastern coast of Australia, never 

 going further south than about the latitude of the Hunter River. It also inhabits some of the 

 islands to the north of the continent. 



It subsists entirely on fish, which it captures generally by swooping down and seizing them 

 with its claws, though sometimes it goes underneath the surface of the water. The prey is usually 

 borne off to a branch of a tree overhanging the water, but occasionally is devoured while the bird circles 

 round in the air. 



During the breeding season, which lasts from the end of June to the beginning of September, 

 a nest of sticks is constructed in which are laid two or three greyish-white eggs, freckled, and 

 streaked with reddish-brown. The average length is two and a-sixth inches, and the breadth one and 

 two-third inch. 



The head, neck, and under surface are white ; feathers of the back, wings, tail, and upper and 

 under tail-coverts, rich chestnut, tipped with black ; thighs, chestnut ; hides, legs, and feet, yellow ; bib 1 ,, 

 light greyish-white. 



Habitats ; North and north-east coasts of Australia, and islands to the north. 



