BIRTJS OF 



The peculiar and liandsorne markings of this httle Hawk- 

 serve, even at a distance, to prevent its being mistaken for 

 any other species. Though sometimes seen near the farm-house 

 it does not bear the stigma of having felonious intentions 

 towards the occupants of the poultry yard, but is credited with 

 the destruction of large numbers of mice, and is therefore 

 regarded with favor by the farmer. It also feeds freely on 

 snakes, lizards, grasshoppers, etc., but has the true falcon 

 etiquette of taking only what is newly killed. It is generallv 

 distributed throughout Ontario, arriving on the southern 

 frontier about tlie end of April, and leaving for the south in 

 September. 



Genus POLYBORUS. 



Subfamily PANDIONIN^. Ospreys. 



Genus PANDION Savigny. 



PANDION HALIAETUS CAROLINENSIS (Gmel.). 



146. American Osprey. 364. 



Plumage lacking after-shafts, compact, imbricated, oily to resist water ; 

 that of the legs short and close, not forming the flowing tufts seen in most 

 other genera, that of the head lengthened, acuminate ; primary coverts stiff 

 and acuminate, Feet immensely large and strong, the tarsus entirely naked, 

 granular-reticulate, the toes all of the same length, unwebbed at base, very 

 scabrous underneath, the outer versatile ; claws very large, rounded under- 

 neath Hook of the bill long, nostrils touching edge of cere. Above dark- 

 brown ; most of the head and neck and the under-parts white, latter some- 

 times with a tawny shade, and streaked with brown. Length, 2 feet ; wing, 

 16-18 inches ; tail, 8-10. 



H.\B. North America, from Hudson's Bay and Alaska, south to the 

 West Indies and Northern South America. 



Nest in a tree ; composed of sticks, often very bulky, from annual 

 additions 



Eggs, 2 to 4 ; variable in color, usually creamy-brown, blotched with 

 various darker shades of brown. 



The FishHawkis generally distribu'.ed throughout Ontario, 

 breeding by the lakes and rivers in the less thickly settled parts 

 of the country. Along the sea coast it is more abundant, 

 frequently breeding in communities of several hundreds. In 



150 



