OSPREY. 4(33 



inner sienna, with a dark lanceolate spot. The lower 

 tail-coverts are white, unspotted, tipped with sienna. 



Length to end of tail 24^ inches, to end of wings 26A ; 

 extent of wings 66 ; wing from flexure 20 ; tail 9i ; 

 bill along the back l\^ ; length of cere I ; edge of lower 

 mandible Ij*^^ ; nostril /^ ; depth of bill at fore edge of 

 cere i§ ; diameter of eye ^^^ ; tarsus 2i, its transverse 

 diameter just beneath the joint 1 ; first toe ij, its claw 

 Ij^^; second toe 1/^, its claw 1^^^; third toe l^^^, its 

 claw 1||; fourth toe Ifi, its claw 1||. 



This bird, which was in perfect plumage, the feathers 

 all new and unworn, was a male. The plumage, as 

 above described, is said by those who have studied the 

 species to be peculiar to the yomig bird. The specimen 

 having only been lent to me, I have been unable to give 

 all the anatomical details. As it is, the description is 

 rather long ; but as the bird is of very rare occurrence 

 with us, I was anxious to note as many of its characters 

 as I could. 



It has been stated that the rounded form of the claws 

 of the osprey adapt them for easily penetrating its 

 prey ; but, in my opinion, this cannot be the reason why 

 their lower surface is rounded, for an angidar or edged 

 weapon, such as a bayonet or the claw of a golden 

 eagle, penetrates more readily than a round one, such 

 as a heckle-pin. The cause of the peculiar form of the 

 osprey's claws, may be owing to the softness of the 

 flesh of its prey, which, were the claws edged beneath 

 or angular, might be apt to give way by being lacerated 

 during the struggles of the captured fish. A rent takes 

 place in any soft substance more readily from an angu- 

 lar than from a circular hole. 



