214 THE NESTS AND EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



masses of colour and no more. Average measurement 

 v6^ inch in length, by v^ inch in breadth. Incubation, 

 performed principally by the female, lasts about three 

 weeks. The female will continue to lay zg^ after ^gg^ 

 in the same nest if they are removed. I have known as 

 many as fourteen to be taken from a single nest in one 

 season. 



Diagnostic characters : The size of the eggs, 

 pale groundcolour, and richness of the markings, readily 

 distinguish the eggs of this species from those of all 

 others breeding: in our islands. 



Family FALCONID^. Genus Pandion. 



Sub-family TANDIONIN^. 



O S P R E Y. 



Pandion HALiAiirus (^Linnmis). 



Single Brooded. Laying season, latter half of April or early 

 in May. 



British breeding area : The Osprey formerly 

 bred much more commonly in our islands than is now 

 the case. It is one of the rarest and most local of 

 British birds, confined exclusively during the breeding 

 season to one or two favoured spots in the Highlands — 

 in Ross-shire and Inverness-shire. 



Breeding habits : The Osprey is a summer migrant 

 to the British Islands, reaching its breeding-grounds in 

 Scotland during May. The favourite haunts of this 

 interesting bird are the wild mountain forests which 

 clothe the heights among which lochs and ruins abound, 



