238 PAN DION. OSPREY. 



a point ; toes thick, strong, free ; the fourth versatile and 

 larger than the second ; all with a few hroad scutella at the 

 end, but in the rest of their extent covered above with imbri- 

 cated scales, those on the sides and especially on the lower 

 surface, rising into a conical central point ; some of them on 

 the inner side of the outer toe being so prominent as to resem- 

 ble short spines. Claws long, rather slender, well-curved, 

 rounded above and beneath, with the sides flattened, the tip 

 very acute ; those of the hind and outer toe largest, that of 

 the middle toe with an inner longitudinal edge, and a flat 

 surface. 



Plumage compact. Cere bare above ; eyelids feathered ; 

 space between the bill and eye sparsely covered with bristly 

 feathers. On the head and neck, the feathers are rather 

 short, narrow, tapering, and compact ; on the back broad, 

 rounded, but acuminate ; on the breast similar ; on the ab- 

 domen softer and more elongated ; on the tibia short, slender, 

 and rather soft, the outer not elongated as in the Eagles, Buz- 

 zards, and most other genera of this family. Wings extremely 

 long, comparatively narrow, rounded, wnth twenty-eight quills; 

 the third longest, the first longer than the fifth ; primary quills 

 tapering and rounded, secondary broad and rounded, tertiary 

 or humeral largely developed. Tail rather long, a little round- 

 ed, of twelve broad feathers. 



The genus Pandion appears to have a considerable affinity 

 to Haliaetus, with which it seems to be connected by a group 

 of which Falco Ichthyaetus of Dr Horsfield is the species best 

 known. The more remarkable peculiarities in the structure of 

 the Osprey, the only species which I have examined internally 

 as well as externally, are : the extreme elongation of the in- 

 testine, which toward its lower extremity is not larger then a 

 raven's quill ; the inferior convexity of the claws ; the want 

 of a tuft of long feathers on the outer side of the tibia ; the 

 conical pointed form of the scales on the lower surface and 

 sides of the toes, and the great length of the wings. The flight 

 of this bird is light and buoyant, as well as strong, and ac- 

 cordingly the ridge of the sternum is very elevated, although 

 the body is not large in proportion to the other parts. 



