28 BRITISH BIRDS, THEIR EGGS AND NESTS. 
leaving her nest, sailed upwards with a circling flight, till she 
joined her mate high above us. 
Having reached the rock, and with some difficulty ascended 
to the nest, our disappointment may be imagined when we 
found it empty. From the old bird having remained on so 
long, we had made sure of finding eggs init. The nest itself, 
however, was interesting to me, perched as it was on the very 
summit of the rock, and composed of large sticks, * every one 
of which must have been a heavy burden for a bird of the size 
of the Osprey. 
In the centre of the pile of sticks was a cup-shaped hollow, 
the size of a boy’s cap, lined with moss and dead grass, and 
apparently quite ready to receive eggs.” “In another nest,” 
says the same author, elsewhere, ““we found two beautiful 
eggs, of a roundisa shape: the colour white, with numerous 
spots and marks of a fine rich red brown.”—J%g. 2, plate I. 
The Osprey is met with from time to time in almost all parts 
of the kingdom, but more especially along the east coast; but 
it is known to breed nowhere in England now. In America, 
it is met with in considerable numbers, forming as it were a 
farge colony, during the brecding season; of course, in the 
vicinity of some ample and convenient fishing station. 
We come next to the Falcons, distinguished from the rest of the 
Hawks, by, among other things, their long and pointed wings, 
and their vehement and rapid fligLt and dash in pursuing and 
seizing their quarry. First we notice the 
7. GYR FALCON.—(Falco Grenlandicus). 
Also called Jer Falcon and Greenland Falcon. 
* Some of the sticks— orrather branches—employed, are said to be 13 
inch in diameter, 
