336 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA,. 
The family is confined to a single genus and species, which, 
however, is found nearly all over the world. The bill is of 
moderate size and much hooked; the nostrils are small, 
narrow, and oblique ; the long and pointed wings, when closed, 
extend beyond the tip of the tail. The tarsus is short, naked, 
and reticulated ; the under surface of the toes is provided with 
prickly scales; the claws are much curved and slightly 
rounded beneath. 
PANDION HALIZTUS (Blanford, Vol. II1., p. 314 ; 
Legge, p. 122). 
The Osprey. 
Description.—Head and neck white, the middle and some- 
times the sides of the crown and nape with broad brown shaft- 
stripes and tips ; a broad brown band runs from each eye 
down the sides of the neck; upper parts pale glossy brown ; 
wing quills blackish-brown ; tail feathers brown, tipped with 
whitish and barred with paler brown, the bars becoming 
fainter in old birds. Lower parts white, the feathers of the 
upper breast with dark shafts and brownish centres of varying 
width ; the flanks also partially streaked with brown. 
In young birds the brown feathers of the upper parts are 
edged with whitish, the tail is more distinctly barred, and the 
breast is quite white, or only faintly spotted with brown, — 
Bill black ; cere dull greenish-blue ; iris yellow ; legs and 
feet greenish or yellowish. 
Females: Length 22; wing 20; tail 8°5; tarsus 2°25; 
bill from gape 1°6. Males are rather smaller ; wing about 
18°5. 
Distribution.—A winter visitor, mainly to the north of the 
Island, where it is said to be fairly common on the lagoons. 
It has been recorded from Galle, Moratuwa, and the Ratnapura 
District. It is a world-wide species, occurring over the whole 
Indian Empire in winter, though probably few birds remain 
couth of the Himalayas in the breeding season. 
Habits, d&:c.—This species in Ceylon seldom goes inland, but 
haunts brackish lagoons, estuaries, or sometimes the open 
coast. When at rest it may be seen perched on dead trees, 
