30 



ACC1PITRES. 



FALCONID/E. 



PANDION HALIZEETUS (Linnaeus*). 

 THE OSPREY, OR FISHING HAWK. 



Pandion haliaetus. 



PANDION, Sa/mgny^. Beak short, strong, rounded, and broad ; cutting edge 

 nearly straight. Nostrils oblong-oval, oblique. Wings long ; second and third 

 quill-feathers longest. Legs strong and muscular: tarsi short, covered with 

 reticulated scales. Toes free, nearly equal ; outer toe reversible ; all armed with 

 strong, curved, and sharp claws ; under surface of the toes rough, and covered 

 with small pointed scales. Feathers wanting the accessory plumule. 



THIS bird, from its habit of feeding almost exclusively on 

 fish, must be looked for near the sea-shore, or about rivers 

 and large lakes which may be expected to afford a plentiful 

 supply of the particular food it is known most to delight in. 

 The manner in which the Osprey seeks and obtains its prey 



* Falco halicetus, Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. Ed. 12, i. p. 129 (1766). 

 t Systeme des Oiseaux de l']3gypte et de la Syrie, p. 9 (1810). 



