The Indian Ospkey. BIRDS. The Whistling Eagle. 253 
into ■ a milder atmosphere as the approach of cold 
weather threatens to deprive it of its food, either by 
freezing up the waters, or preventing the fishes from 
coming so freely to the surface. Its habits appear to 
be everywhere much the same. Sailing gently along, at 
a considerable height above the surface of the water, it 
keeps a watchful eye upon the proceedings of the fishes 
beneath it, and the moment one of them comes near 
enough to the surface to render its capture possible, the 
wings of the osprey are immediately closed, and it 
descends, as described by Wilson, “ like a perpendi- 
cular torrent, plunging into the sea with a loud rush- 
ing sound, and with the certainty of a rifle.” Barely 
is the attempt made in vain; in a few seconds the 
osprey emerges again from the water with his prey 
struggling hr his talons, from which, however, there is 
no escape, and shaking the water from his plumage he 
sails slowly to the shore. In this way the osprey often 
captures and hears to land a prey considerably exceed- 
ing himself in weight, and the American ornithologists 
describe the bird as exhibiting great ingenuity when 
the wind is off the shore, in tacking about so as to avoid 
flying directly against it. Occasionally the osprey is 
said to vary his fish-diet by capturing Avater-fowl, but 
this seems to occur but rarely. 
The nest is composed of an immense mass of rotten 
sticks and similar materials ; it is generally placed in a 
high tree, but sometimes upon rocks, ruined buildings, 
or even on the ground. In this the female deposits 
two or three eggs, of a white colour, blotched with 
reddish-brown at the large end. The female sits 
almost continuously, the male supplying her with food 
during the periods of incubation, and after the young 
birds are hatched, which is usually in the month of 
June, the parents are mdefatigable in feeding them, 
until, or even after, they are able to provide for 
themselves. 
THE IHDIAH OSPREY {Pandion Ichthyaetus) is a 
nearly-allied species, first discovered by Dr. Ilorsfield 
iir Java, where it frequents the borders of lakes and 
large rivers. It is also found upon the continent of 
Asia, as far north as Nepaul, and is known in Bengal 
by the name of Fish-tyrant. In its habits it closely 
resembles the common osprey, and lives exclusively 
upon fish, never, according to Dr. Ilorsfield, attacking 
fowls or other animals. 
THE WHITE-HEADED OSPREY {Pandion leucoce- 
phalus) is a generally- distributed, although not an 
abundant species in Australia, where it follows precisely 
the same mode of life as its European congener, from 
which it is readily distinguished by having the whole 
crown of the head white. The nest is composed of 
sticks, some of them as thick as a man’s wrist, and lined 
with sea-weeds. It is of enormous size — one measured 
by Mr. Gilbert being fifteen feet in circumference — and 
is placed either upon a rock, or amongst the branches 
of a high tree. The eggs are two in number, yellowish 
or white, blotched with reddish or purplish brown. 
THE PONDICHERRY EAGLE (Haliaslur Indus) is a 
very common and conspicuous species in India, where 
it is known to Europeans as the “ Brahminy kite,” the 
former name being in allusion to its being regarded 
with superstitious feelings by the Hindoos, and the 
latter to the resemblance of its habits to those of the 
kites. It is said to be sacred to Vishnu, and one of 
its Hindoo names signifies that it is “ Shiva’s kite 
another native name is the “ Waslierman’s kite,” and a 
third, which is interpreted the “ Lucky-faced,” is evi- 
dently in allusion to a superstition prevalent among the 
Mahometans, that “ when two armies are about to 
engage, the appearance of one of these birds over either 
party prognosticates victory to that side.” — {Pearson.) 
This bird is found not only on the peninsula of Hindos- 
tan, but also in the regions to the east of this, and in 
the islands of the Indian Archipelago. 
The Pondicherry eagle is a small species, measuring 
scarcely twenty inches in length ; its plumage is cliest- 
nut-brown on the upper part, and white streaked with 
broivn on the lower. The heak is ash-coloured, with 
a bluish cere, and the feet yellow, with black claws. The 
beak, feet, and claws are much weaker than in the 
ospreys ; the front of the tarsus is covered with large 
hexagonal scales, and the upper surface of all the toes 
is occupied by broad plate-like scales. 
Its flight is described as greatly resembling that of a 
kite, except that the motion of the wings is rather more 
frequent. It is seen constantly sailing over the tanks, 
rice-fields, and rivers, at a moderate height, often pass- 
ing up and down the course of a river, ready to pounce 
down in a moment at any unlucky fish that may make 
its appearance at the surface of the water. It usually 
snatches up its prey from the surface without immersing 
itself, but occasionally it dips entirely under water, 
when it seems to experience some difficulty in rising 
again with its prey. Besides fishes, this bird feeds 
upon many other inhabitants of the waters, such as 
frogs, insects, and Crustacea, and, according to some 
observers, will also seize upon young birds. 
THE WHISTLING EAGLE {Haliastur sphenurus), or 
Whistling Hawk of the Australian colonists, is an 
abundant bird in all parts of New Holland, where it 
inhabits alike the sea-coasts and the scrubs and swamps 
of the interior. It obtains its name from its emitting a 
shrill whistling cry when flying. Its plumage is of a 
brown colour, pale beneath and dark on the back and 
wings, the feathers of the latter parts being margined 
with greyish white ; the bill and cere are greyish, and 
the feet bluish, with black claws. The tail is long and 
wedge-shaped, and the whole length of the bird is about 
two feet. 
The Whistling eagle feeds upon carrion, small quad- 
rupeds, birds, reptiles, insects, and fish, but does not 
appear to display any of the energy which characteilzes 
the proceedings of some of the preceding species, in its 
pursuit of the last-mentioned prey. It is said by Mi-. 
Gould to be destructive in the poultry yards of the 
colonists; but, on the other hand, it repays much of the 
injury thus done by destroying vast numbers of cater- 
pillars, which frequently descend in armies upon the 
cultivated lands, and threaten to carry desolation with 
them. The birds are generally seen in pairs ; their 
nest is constructed of sticks and fibrous roots, usually 
in the branches of a tall tree; and in this the female 
lays one or two eggs, of a bluish-white colour, with 
a slight tinge of green, upon ■■vhich a few brownish 
markings are obscurely perceptible. 
