30 LAKES AND RIVERS. 



killed in the previous season I have frequently seen 

 individuals flying near the now-deserted eyrie." 



Mr. Selby has seen the osprey on Loch Awe, 

 " where an eyrie is annually established upon the 

 ruins of a castle near the southern extremity of the 

 lake, and another in a similar situation nearly oppo- 

 site the egress of the river Awe. 7 ' 



The Osprey breeds in May, and lays from two to 

 four eggs, which have the ground-colour bluish or 

 yellowish-white, variously spotted with burnt-sienna, 

 light and dark and pale lilac ; some are very richly 

 marked with large blotches of a dark sienna. The 

 size is that of a common domestic duck. 



The Marsh Harrier (Circus rufus) is a bird of prey 

 which frequents low and marshy grounds, and feeds 

 on aquatic birds, quadrupeds, and frogs. 



Gliding over the tops of the reeds, it pounces on 

 its prey. The Marsh Harrier was once common in the 

 fenny districts of England, but, through the drainage 

 of these, it has become almost extirpated. The co- 

 lour of this bird varies ; sometimes the head and 

 throat have much white, at other times the plumage, 

 except the fore-head, hind-head, throat and sides of 

 the mouth, are deep umber-brown with no light shade 

 underneath ; the parts excepted are yellowish-white. 

 In another, .the plumage is pale yellowish-red on the 

 upper tail-covert and base of the tail-feathers. The 

 remainder of the feathers are chiefly umber-brown. 

 The quills are not tipped with white, and the white 

 of the hind-head is pure, also above each eye. 

 In the young the colour is more uniform and there 

 is no yellowish-white about the head. In another variety 



