PANDION HALIABTUS 151 



The occurrence of the Osprey in Algeria has been recorded by 

 Malherbe, Loche and Taczanowski, and in Marocco by Stark and 

 Favier. In the Straits of Gibraltar Colonel Irby says the Osprey 

 is most abundant in winter, and breeds there regularly in limited 

 numbers. In Italy, although not common, the species occurs in 

 several localities, particularly on the Italian Islands, on some of 

 which it breeds and is probably resident all the year round. On the 

 Sicilian coast it is frequently to be met with, more especially on the 

 south-west of the island near Marsala and Trapani, and on the east 

 coast near the Faro of Messina, where the bird goes by the name 

 of Cefalani, from its partiality for the Cefalo, or Grey Mullet, 

 abundant in those watei's. It may also frequently be seen near the 

 marshes of Catania and Lentini, and is said to breed on Monte Iblea 

 near Syracuse. 



Although a resident species in North-west Africa, the Osprey is 

 a bird of passage in many countries, and is eminently migratory and 

 cosmopolitan in its habits, few other birds probably having so wide 

 a range throughout the world. 



Feeding, as it does, exclusively on fish, the species is always to 

 be found in the vicinity of water, either fresh or salt, inland lakes 

 and rivers being frequented as much as the sea-coast. It preys upon 

 many different species of fish, but naturally more upon those which 

 are surface swimmers, swooping down upon its prey, often from a 

 great height, and then ascending again with the fish in its talons. 

 Occasionally the fish struck is too heavy to be lifted out of the water, 

 and unless the bird is immediately able to extricate its claws, and 

 disengage itself from its victim, it is dragged beneath the water and 

 loses its life. 



I have alluded to the Osprey's partiality for the Grey Mullet, 

 and the Sicilian name given to it on that account, but it appears that 

 in some parts of England also, the bird is called the Mullet-Hawk. 



The present species, according to Blanc, undoubtedly breeds in 

 Tunisia and its islands, but I have no positive information regarding 

 nests and eggs found there. In other countries where the species 

 breeds, it selects either a tree, or a suitable ledge of rocks as a site 

 for its nest, which is a bulky structure of sticks and twigs, with a 

 lining of softer materials. The usual complement of eggs appears to 

 be two or three, rarely four, the ground colour being white or buff. 



