444 
PROCEEDINGS OE SECTION D, 
Nest . — A structure of great size, about 4 feet high by the same 
dimension in breadth, built of sticks, with a shallow cavity lined with 
seaweed. Usual situation an inaccessible rock or island, but low 
timber near water is sometimes chosen. 
Eggs. — Clutch, 3-4 ; shapely ovals, slightly compressed towards 
one end ; texture of shell somewhat granulated, surface of soft 
appearance and lustreless; ground-colour, huffy, or yellowish-white. 
In three examples of a splendid set taken from an aerie near the 
mouth of the Margaret River (W.A.),the markings are mostly large 
and bold blotches of rich, dark, purplish-brown, more numerous about 
the upper half of the egg, and forming a large confluent patch almost 
black on the apex ; while the fourth egg is not so heavily blotched, the 
markings of pinkish-brown, intermingled with dull purple, being 
lighter and more evenly distributed over the surface ; inside lining 
of the shell, when held up to the light, dull yellowish-green. 
Dimensions. in centimetres: (1) 6*3 x4*52 ; (2) 6'2 x 4*58 ; (3) 6*15 x 
4*56 ; (4) 6*15 x 4*42. 
Observations . — My only experiences with this expert Fishing 
Hawk were in Western Australia. At \\ r allcliffe, on the Margaret 
River, a nest, with slightly hollowed top, was about 4 feet high, 
with a circumference of about 13 feet, constructed of sticks and roots, 
and situated about 25 feet above high-water mark. The old birds 
were circling on high, their white heads just distinguishable from their 
dusky bodies set against the azure sky, and were uttering piercing cries 
of solicitude for the safety of their helpless offspring below r . 
The exact date of the foregoing was the 5th November, 1889. 
Mr. Bussell compensated for my disappointment at finding only young 
by presenting me with a full clutch of the unusual number of four eggs 
that he had removed from the Osprey’s aerie the previous season. 
The 21st December I examined, another Osprey’s aerie containing 
fully fledged young on Direction Rock or Byer’s Island, off Rottnest 
Island. The nest was at one end of the rock, while the other end was 
occupied by scores of handsome crested Terns {Sterna bergi ), all 
prosecuting their task of incubation, perfectly fearless of their large 
raptorial friends. I thought this somewhat remarkable, for, dearly 
as the Osprey loves fish, it is by no means adverse to fowl. Time did 
not permit of my visiting another aerie which was reported to me on 
Rottnest Island, but we possess good Gilbert’s record of measuring 
one there 15 feet in circumference. 
While at the Blackwood River, near Cape Leeuwin, I learned 
from the Misses Ellis that they robbed an Osprey’s (or, as they called 
it, a Fish Hawk’s) nest three times in one season. Each time three eggs 
formed the clutch. Once the birds built their nest on snags in the 
river, then removed to a tea-tree {Melaleuca) on the bank. 
The following is a note referring to the Osprey, made in 
December, 1889, at Houtman’s Abrolhos Islands, about fifty miles off 
Champion Bay : — “ More common than the White-bellied Sea-Eagle. 
One day, as the German barque ‘ Capella’ was riding at anchor in 
Good Friday Bay, each of the mastheads was occupied by one of the 
noble birds. In addition to fish, the Osprey is very partial to the 
little white-faced storm-petrel {Procellar ia fregata ), and a rough- 
tailed lizard {Egernia stokesi ), common upon Rat Island. Lays in 
September.” 
