WHITE-HEADED SEA-EAGLE. 
seldom being noticed on the islands out at sea. The immense belts of 
mangroves afford plenty of shelter, and in their recesses their nests are 
generally placed. They return season after season to the same locality to 
nest, sometimes renovating the old nest, at other times building a new nest 
in an adjacent tree. They start nesting in June and July. A nest found 
on 28th August contained one young bird and one egg, the latter being 
chipped ; on 16th October they were fine chicks, able to fly a short distance, 
and a week later they had left the nest for good.” 
Probably as much has been written on the status of this bird as any 
Australian form. 
The first questioning of its specific status seems to have been due to 
Gurney, who however did not publish his views, but personally communicated 
them to Gould and Blyth. The latter {Ihis, 1865, p. 27), dealing with 
Horsfield’s types from Java, recorded the following : 
“ Faho pondicerianus apud Horsfield is a race intermediate to Haliastur 
indus of India proper and H. leucosternum of Australia, having dark central 
streaks to the white portion of the plumage, but considerably less developed 
than (constantly) in the Indian bird. An Indian specimen and a Javanese 
one may, at the present time, be seen together in the Zoological Gardens, 
Begent’s Park. Of very many examples of the Indian race examined or 
beheld close, I certainly have never seen one that has the dark streaks or 
lines so little developed as in the Javanese bird, or most assuredly I should 
have remarked it. To what extent the Indian and Australian races may 
thus grade into each other, in other intermediate localities, remains to be 
ascertained. Examples from Siam are similar to those from Java ; while 
specimens from Bourou, Gilolo and Aru are of the true Australian race, 
without a trace of the medial stripes on the white feathers of the plumage. 
Mr. Gurney informs me that he thinks the Javanese race should be 
distinguished by the name intermedins. The Australian is figured by Vieillot 
as Haliaetus girrenera {Gal. d^Ois., t. 10), but he did not discrimina^te it 
apart from the Indian.” 
Sharpe, in the Gat. Birds Brit. Mus., Vol. I., 1874, admitted, p. 313, 
Haliastur indus ; p. 314, Subsp. («) Haliastur intermedins ; and p. 315, 
Subsp. (^) Haliastur girrenera. The last name was utilised in spite of Blyth’s 
definite statement that it was not available, and, though Gould’s name 
leucosternus was absolutely correct, Australian writers, unable to investigate 
such matters for themselves on account of the lack of literature, were 
compelled to accept Sharpe’s decision. Writers better placed did not 
interest themselves, as any name, right or wrong, was to them' good enough 
for an Australian bird. 
VOL. V. 
153 
