FALCONID^E. PANDION C AK O L IN EN SI S. 53 



PANDION CAROLINENSIS. 



Falco carolinensis, GM. Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 263. 

 Aquila piscatrix, VIEILL. Ois. d'Am. Sept. I, 1807, 29. 

 Pandion americanus, VIEILL. Gal. I. 33. 

 Falco haliictus, WILS. Am. Orn. V, 1812, 13 ; pi. xxxvii. 

 BONAP. Syn. 1828, p. 28. 



AUD. Orn. Biog. I, 1832, 415 ; V, 362 ; pi. kx.vi. 

 NUTTALL, Manual, I, 1832, 18. 

 DE KAY, Nat. Hist. N. Y., pi. viii, fig. 18. 

 Pandlon carolinensis, BONAP. Geog. and Comp. List, 1838, p. 3. 



CASSIN, Syn. N. A. Birds, 1854 (Illust. Birds of Cal.), p. 112. 

 Pandion lialicctus, AUD. Syn. 1839, p. 12. 



" " Birds of Am. I, 1840, 64 ; pi. xv. 



VULG. The Fish-Hawk. Osprey. Carolina Osprey. Fishing Hawk. 



OWING to the confusion which has existed, until recently, in regard to the iden 

 tity of the Osprey of the Old World with the Fish-Hawk of the New, there has 

 been a corresponding uncertainty respecting the geographical limits of the Ameri- 

 can species. As their difference can no longer be questioned, we feel justified in 

 assuming that our bird is found only throughout North America, from the fur re- 

 gions around Hudson's Bay to Central America. According to Mr. Hill, as quoted 

 by Mr. Gosse in his " Birds of Jamaica," it is found occasionally in that island, and, 

 as I learn by letter from Dr. Gundlach, is also occasionally met with in the island 

 of Cuba ; but it is not known to breed in either place. 1 Dr. Woodhousc, in his 

 report of the expedition to the Zuni River, speaks of this Hawk as common along 

 the coasts of Texas and California. The Viucennes exploring expedition obtained 

 specimens in Oregon. Dr. Heermann mentions it as common on the borders of all 

 the large rivers of California in summer, and Dr. Gambel also mentioned it as abun- 

 dant along the coast of that State, and on its rocky islands, in which latter localities 

 it breeds. I am not aware that it has ever been found farther south than Texas. 



To the- north it has been met with by Dr. Eichardson in the Arctic regions, where 

 its migrations are supposed not to reach the extreme northern limits of the continent. 

 That observing naturalist saw nothing of this bird when he was coasting along the 

 shores of the Arctic Sea, nor did Mr. Hearne meet with it on the barren grounds 

 north of Churchill. 



It is found along the entire Atlantic coast, from Labrador to Florida, with the 

 exception of that of Massachusetts around Boston, where it does not breed, and 

 where it is only occasionally met with. It is most abundant from Long Island to 

 the Chesapeake, and throughout this long extent of coast is very numerous, often 

 breeding in large communities, to the number of several hundred pairs. In the 

 interior it is much less frequent, but is occasionally met with on the banks of the 

 larger rivers and lakes, and in such instances usually in solitary pairs. 



1 Since the above was in type, I have received a letter from Dr. Gundlach, in which the Pandion 

 carolinensis is marked as one of the birds which " may breed in Cuba." 



