186 OSPREY. 



state Mr Selby considers as marking the younger 

 birds. 



A specimen, which appears adult, is in length 

 about twenty-three inches. Bill blueish black, 

 much hooked, and presenting the form of the 

 lower outline in our wood- cut.* The feathers on 

 the hind head, we should almost say the nape, 

 are long and lanceolate, and when raised, shew 

 the commencement of an occipital crest. Head 

 and nape white, streaked irregularly with deep 

 umber brown, a distribution caused by the tips, 

 or half the tips, being of that colour. The pos- 

 terior part of the auriculars, wings, and back, are 

 dark umber brown. The tips of the feathers on 

 the back and scapulars paler. The quills are very 

 dark, and exceed the tail in length by nearly 

 an inch, white at the base on the insides, and 

 clouded with dark bars ; the under wing coverts 

 white, barred with umber brown. The tail is 

 short and square ; the feathers composing it 

 ample ; the colour umber brown, barred with a 

 paler tint, which is nearly white in the outer 

 plumes ; the shafts white ; the under parts pure 

 white ; the pectoral band indicated by lan- 

 ceolate streaks of umber brown. 



* The upper figure is from a New Holland specimen, 



