BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 215 



The Osprey i^Pandioii haliactus^ Linnaeus) is a summer 

 visitor to the British Islands, and is also met with in most 

 parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America. In 

 South America it occurs as far south as Brazil. The adult 

 male has the head and nape white, with broad streaks of 

 brown ; remainder of upper parts, dark brown, tinged with 

 purplish : beneath, white, crossed on the chest with a broad 

 band of light brown ; irides, yellow ; bill, black ; cere, legs, 

 and toes, bluish. Length, from twenty-one to twenty-two 

 inches. The female is larger than the male, and has the 

 crest more streaked and the chest band more produced. 



