222 BIRDS OF BERMUDA. 



Sub-family AQUILINE. 

 Genus Pandion, Savigny. 



85. Pandion kalia'etus, (Linn.) Cuv. Osprey. 



Aquila haU(etus, Briss., Mey., Jen. 



Falco haliaeius, Linn.. Gm., Lath., Daud., Shaw, Temm., Wils., Bp., Nutt., 



Aud., Gir., Naum. 

 Accipiter halicetus, Pall. 

 Pandion halicetus, Cuv., Less., Steph., Sw., Kaup, Eyton, Bp., Keys & Bias., 



Schl., Gray, Strickl., Cones, aud of authors. 

 Falco arundinaceus, cayanensis, carolinensis, Gm., Daud. 

 Pandion carolinensis, Bp., De Kay, Strickl., Cass., Brewer, Heerm., Coop. & 



Suck., Lord, Cones, Dall & Baun., Coop., and most late U. S. authors. 

 Pandion haliwtus, var. carolinensis, Ridg., B. B. & R. 

 Pandion fluvialis, Savi., Less., Vieil., Degl., Rous, Baill., Puch. 

 Pandion americanus, Vieil., Sw., Vig. 

 Pandion indicus, Hodges. 



Pandion leucoceplialus, Gould, Gray, Bp., Strickl. 

 Pandion halicetus, var. leucocephalus, Ridg., B. B. 6c R. 



Female : Length about 25 inches ; wing, 21 ; tail, lOJ. 



Male rather smaller. 



Hah. — Cosmopolitan. American and Australian, respectively, under 

 the names of P. carolinensis and P. leucocephalus, have been currently 

 regarded as distinct races or species (Coues). 



The movements of this cosmopolitan species in Bermuda are some- 

 what mysterious. In 1874 I saw the first on April 22 ; in 1875, one was 

 observed on the 17th of that month. During May they are often to be 

 seen, especially about the Great Sound, along the south shore, and at 

 Peuiston's Pond, but whether these are old or young birds I cannot say, 

 as I religiously abstained from shooting one. During the summer 

 months I lost sight of them, though I believe they were occasionally 

 observed, but in autumn I met with one or two specimens. On May 2, 

 1875, I watched for some time two of these fine birds circling over 

 Devonshire Swamp. This gave rise to the question, " Do they breed 

 here! " I took eggs in Southern Spain, slightly incubated, on March 29; 

 and there being but little difference of latitude between the two places, 

 it would be only natural to suppose that if they were going to nest in 

 Bermuda they would have arrived earlier. Probably, therefore, they 

 are young birds from early nests on the mainland. They are said by 

 Newton to be found on the island of St. Croix at all times except dur- 

 ing the breeding season, and the same remark doubtless applies to 

 Bermuda. I could hear nothing of nests in former years. I must 

 leave the question to be solved by future visitors to the islands. 



