

OSPREY.— /"oiidion Jinliiiclns. 



the diurnal birds of prey. The colour of the Urubitinga is nearly black, diversified with 

 some gi-eyish marks upon the wings, and the white tail-coverts and base of the tail. The 

 beak is powerfidly made, and very convex above, and the claws are very sharply pointed. 

 The colour of the legs and cere is yellow, and the tarsus is marked in front with a series 

 of shield-like scales. AVhen young, the plumage of the Urubitinga is very different fi-om 

 that of the adult bird, being largely mixed with yellow and dark brown. It is always to 

 be found near rivers, lakes, and swamps, as it feeds upon the aq[uatic reptiles which are 

 found so plentifully in such localities, and also upon the smaller mammalia which also 

 inhaljit wet and mar.shy situations. 



One of the most interesting of the predaceous birds which belong to Great Britain is 

 the celebrated Osprey, or Fishing Hawk. This fine bird was formerly very common in 

 England, but is now but rarely seen within the confines of the British Isles, although 

 isolated species are now and then seen. 



As the bird is a fish-eater, it is generally obsei-ved on the sea-coast or fiu the banks of 

 some large river, but has occasionally been observed in some comparati\'ely waterless situa- 

 tion, where it has probably been driven by stress of weather. In some parts of Scotland 



