THE OSPREYS. Ill 



although of late years their services in the destruction of 

 vermin has been more generally recognised. 



Nest. — None. Sometimes the eggs are surrounded by cast- 

 up pellets, but no regular nest is made. The eggs are laid in 

 May, seldom as early as April, but young birds have been 

 found as late as November and December. 



Eggs. — From three to seven in number ; white, with little or 

 no gloss. Axis, i-5-i'7; diam., i-i-i-3. 



THE BIRDS OF PREY. ORDER ACCIPITRES. 



Without fully enumerating the many anatomical and osteo- 

 logical characters which distinguish these birds, it is sufficient 

 to note that Accipitrine Birds have a desmognathous, or 

 " bridged," palate, and the external characters are easily recog- 

 nisable. Thus the hooked and raptorial bill is peculiar to the 

 Birds of Prey, taken in conjunction with the cere, or bare skin 

 at the base of the bill. The Passerine Family of Shrikes, or 

 Laniida have also a hooked or raptorial bill, but they have no 

 cere, and lack the powerful talons which are also a conspicuous 

 feature in the Accipitres. The young birds are covered with 

 down, and remain in a helpless condition in the nest for a 

 considerable period, being nurtured by the old birds on animal 

 food. As a general rule, the female is a larger and more 

 powerful bird than the male. 



THE OSPREYS. SUB-ORDER PANDIONES. 



The Ospreys occupy an intermediate position between the 

 Owls and the typical Birds of Prey. The skeleton is especially 

 Owl-like, but the eyes are placed laterally in the head, and there 

 is no facial disk. Like the Owls, however, the outer toe is 

 reversible, and is capable of being turned forwards or back- 

 wards, a great advantage to a fish-catching bird, and the sole 

 of the foot is covered with numerous small spicules, which are 

 of great advantage to the Osprey in holding its finny prey. 



The range of the Ospreys is almost cosmopolitan, and there 

 is only one species representing the Sub-order. The Osprey 



