THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
IcUhyaetus leucogaster Blyth, Journ. As. Soc. Beng., Vol, XI., p. 110, 1842 ; Gould, Bir(L 
Austr., Vol. I., pi. 3, 1848 ; Ramsay, Ibis 1865, p. 83 (Q.) ; Biggies, Om. Austr., 
pt. V., pi. 2, 1866. 
Pontoa'etus leucogaster Gray, Genera Birds, Vol. I., p. 18, 1845. 
Cuncuum leucogaster Gray, List Birds Brit. Mus. Ace., p. 24, 1848 ; Bonaparte, Consp. 
Gen. Av., Vol. I., p. 15, 1850 ; Mathews, List Birds Austr., p. 107, 1913. 
Blagrus leucogaster Blyth, Cat. Birds Mus. As. Soc. Bengal, p. 30, 1852. 
Poliocetus leucogaster Gould, Handb. Birds Austr., Vol. I., p. 13, 1865 ; Ramsay, Proc. 
Zool. Soc. (Lond.) 1875, p. 578. 
Haliaeetus leucogaster leucogaster Mathews, Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 248, 1912. 
Halicetus leucogaster 'pallidus Mathews, ib., Derby, North-West Australia. 
Distribution. Australia ; Tasmania. Extra-limital. 
Adult female. General colour above, including the back, wings and base of tail hoary 
grey, with dark shaft-lines to the feathers ; some of the proximal lesser upper wing- 
coverts have an indication to white edges ; some of the median and greater upper 
wing-coverts, scapulars and innermost secondaries are brown at the ends and 
void of the frosty-grey appearance ; primary-quills inclining to black at the tips, 
the second to the sixth incised on the outer web ; base of tail blackish-brown ; 
head and neck all round and entire under-surface including the axillaries and 
lesser and median under wing-coverts white with dark shaft-lines to the feathers 
on the nape, hind-neck, breast, sides of body, axillaries, and under wing-coverts, 
some of the latter grey, or mottled with grey, the greater series uniform grey at the 
tips ; iris brown, cere leaden brown ; tarsi and feet white ; bill brown, tip blackish 
brown, base leaden-blue. Total length 780 mm. ; culmen 44, wing 572, tail 260, 
tarsus 87. 
Adult male. Similar to the adult female. 
Nestling covered with white down. 
Imrmture. Upper-surface brown, the feathers with lighter tips : back and rump darker 
than head, though tips lighter, making more contrast. Wings brown ; primaries 
freckled with whitish towards their bases ; secondaries similarly marked ; upper 
wing-coverts lighter with conspicuous whitish tips : under-surface rufous brown, 
the feathers white-tipped : under wing-coverts white mottled with brown ; tail 
above white freckled with brown, tips white : under freckhng more pronounced. 
Nest. A large structure composed of sticks and lined Avith leaves, placed in trees, but 
when these are not available, on a projecting rock. Outside measurements : 5 feet 
wide by 3 deep ; inside 12 inches by 3 or 4 deep. 
Eggs. Clutch two ; white, slightly glossy. Axis 70-72 mm. ; diameter 51-55. 
Breeding-season. June to August (usually). 
Latham, in the General Synopsis of Birds, Vol. I., p. 33*, 1781, described 
a N(ew) S(pecies) of Falcon under the name, “ White-Bellied E(agle),” as 
follows: “Length two feet nine inches. Bill brownish-yellow, large, and 
aquiline ; head, neck, breast, belly, thighs, and vent white ; back, wings, 
and tail dark brown, except the end of the last, which is white for about 
three inches ; the legs are yellow and very stout ; the claws black. 
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