134 



"other mammals" are mostly harmful rodents, with a very few shrews. 

 The insects are usually grasshoppers which do great damage and are 

 difficult to control. From the above evidence it is obvious that the Sparrow 

 Hawk is beneficial and should be protected. 



FAMILY PANDJONID^]. FISH-HAWKS. OSPREYS. 



The Fish-hawks or Ospreys constitute a family of raptorial birds subsist- 

 ing entirely upon fish, which they capture in shallow water by diving. Other 

 members of the order eat fish, but usually only as scavengers or by stealing 

 from fish-catching birds. As there is only one species of Fish-hawk in 

 America, no general discussion of the family is necessary here. 



Genus Pandion. Ospreys. 



364. Osprey. AMERICAN OSPREY. FISH-HAWK. FR. LE BALBUZARD D'AMERIQUE. 

 L'ORFRAIE D'AMERIQUE. L'AIGLE-PECHEUR. Pandion haliaetus carolinensis. L, 23-10. 

 Plate XV A. 



Distinctions. The coloration of the Osprey is quite distinctive. Its pale blue legs, 

 and feet much roughened with sharp horny processes, especially on the soles and grasping 

 surfaces, are decidedly characteristic. 



Field Marks. The large wing expanse of this bird is responsible for the common 

 mistake of calling it an Eagle. It is, however, much smaller than either of the Eagles and 

 its white underparts will distinguish it from them. 



Nesting. A great mass of sticks in trees or on the ground, which, as it is added to year 

 after year, finally becomes almost as large as a small haycock. 



Distribution. The Osprey occurs in most of Europe, Asia, Africa, and in America south 

 to northern South America. The American Osprey breeds in Canada locally in all except 

 the southern sections. 



SUBSPECIES. The Osprey, inhabiting both the New and Old Worlds, is divided 

 into subspecific races, of which the American Osprey P. h. carolinensis is the American 

 representative. Its separation from the European form is based upon characters too 

 slight for discussion here. 



The Osprey is a most picturesque bird. Sailing at a height over the 

 water it pauses a moment and then drops suddenly, not straight down 

 like a plummet, as the Gannet does, but in a long spiral, striking the 

 water feet first with wings raised high over its back. There is a splash 

 of white spray and it rises in the air, a fish clasped in its rough talons, 

 and is away to its aerie. The Ospreys frequent broad shallows, tidal 

 flats, and shoal bays rather than deeper water where they would have to 

 depend upon chance surface-frequenting fish. In the Great Lakes region 

 the species is growing rarer. Its great bulky nest is added to year after 

 year until it assumes such proportions that it becomes a landmark for the 

 country around and invites constant attack from human nest-robbers, so 

 that it is now only in the more retired localities that it can breed un- 

 disturbed. It is still numerous along the Atlantic coast and gulf of St. 

 Lawrence, but inland it is rare. 



Economic Status. Though the food of the Osprey is entirely fish 

 the antipathy that fishermen have for it is rather exaggerated. Feeding 

 as it does in shallow waters it takes few fish of economic importance. 

 On the coast, flounders, tomcod, and other small species form the bulk 

 of its food. On the freshwater lakes, sunfish, perch, and suckers seem 

 to be its staples. The number of game or marketable fish it catches is 



