67 



RAPACIOUS BIRDS, OR BIRDS OF PREY. 



CHAPTEE II. 



The OSPEEY, or Fishing-Hawk The FALCONS. Seven 

 British species of Falcons The Gyr Falcon The Pere- 

 grine Falcon trained for hawking - Some account of 

 British Falconry The Hobby, and the Merlin Falcons 

 The Kestrel, or Windhover Description of this bird, and 

 anecdote of a Cat and a Kestrel The TRIBE OF HAWKS 

 Two British species of Hawks The Goshawk The 

 Sparrow-Hawk Common in England Two anecdotes of 

 this bird, showing its tameness and love of sweet sounds 

 The Kite A description of this bird The Buzzard The 

 HAEEIEES Three British species of these birds The 

 Marsh Harrier The Hen Harrier Montagu's Harrier. 



THE OSPREY, or fishing hawk, partakes of the cha- 

 racters both of the eagle and the falcon, and forms 

 a sort of link between the eagle and the kite.* 

 It lives almost exclusively on fish, which it seizes 

 with its claws, plunging into the water, and bear- 

 ing off its prey. The whole structure of this bird 

 is' most beautifully and admirably adapted to its 

 habits. The outer toe is flexible, and can be 

 turned either way so as to enable it to clutch what 

 it seizes firmly ; the claws are strong, curved, and 

 sharp, and it has a peculiar roughness in the soles 

 of its feet, by which it is secured from dropping 



* The Oriental hawks of the genus Haliaeetus are half 

 ospreys and half kites. 



F 2 



