FALCON I D.«. 



347 



THE OS PREY. 



Pandion haliaetus (Linnteus). 



The Osprey is not uncommon as a visitor to the sea-shores and 

 inland waters of our islands, especially in autumn ; and no fewer 

 than ten were recorded between the Tyne and the Thames in the 

 months of September and October i8Si ; but the majority of these 

 visitors are immature birds, some of which remain on our coasts 

 until the beginning of June. Estuaries are favourite haunts, and 

 in those of Sussex and Hants it is known as the Mullet-Hawk, 

 owing to its partiality for that fish. Tradition states that it formerly 

 bred on the south coast of England, and according to Heysham it 

 did so near Ullswater until the end of the last century ; in Galloway 

 there were at least two eyries up to about i860, but at the present 

 day those which are known to exist in Scotland are confined to the 

 Highlands, where their safetv depends upon i)rotcction and secresy. 

 To the Hebrides, Orkneys and Shetlands, the Osprey is only an 

 accidental visitor ; while in Ireland, where it occurs on migration, it 

 has never been known to breed, although many of the inland waters 

 appear to be suited to its habits. 



This species does not occur in Iceland or Greenland, though very 



