OSPREY. 373 



having been aroused by its diminutive size, he at last shot it. 

 Still thinking it to be only a small and curious variety of 

 the common Kestrel, he took it to D. Graham of York for 

 preservation. Mr. Graham afterwards identified the bird 

 and he persuaded Mr. Harrison to present it to the York 

 Museum, where I have seen it. Mr. W. S. Dallas, F.L.S., 

 at that time curator of the Museum, informed Mr. Harrison 

 that the specimen was a mature, though apparently not an 

 old male, presenting all the distinctive characters of 

 Tinnunculus cenchris, among which the yellowish-white 

 claws were mentioned. Mr. Harrison greatly regretted his 

 inability to supply the exact date, owing to his omission 

 to make a note of it at the time. The bird being undoubtedly 

 a Lesser Kestrel, and thus the authenticity of the occurrence 

 resting on Mr. Harrison's word, it may be considered as 

 quite beyond doubt. 



Since the date of the first occurrence five others are placed 

 on record, and a second Yorkshire specimen is reported by 

 Mr. Robert Lee of Thirsk, who writes in the Field (23rd April 

 1892), that, on the 12th of that month, an adult male in good 

 plumage, and without any traces of being in confinement, 

 was brought to him to preserve. The total length was iif 

 inches, expanse of wings 26 inches, and weight 4^- oz. The 

 specimen is now in the possession of Mr. Foggit of Thirsk. 



OSPREY. 

 Pandion haliaetus (Z.). 



Bird of passage, of very rare occurrence in spring and autumn. 

 Formerly observed regularly on its way to and from its northern 

 breeding haunts. 



The earliest reference to the Osprey, in connection with 

 Yorkshire, is a quotation from R. Johnson [of Brignall, 

 near Greta Bridge], who stated that " It preys often upon 

 our rivers." (Willughby's " Ornithology," 1678, p. 21.) 



