OSPEEY. 75 



broadly banded with black and tipped with white ; remaining 

 upper parts buffish red, with small, black triangular markings. 

 Wings blackish brown ; under parts pale yellowish red, spotted 

 and streaked with dusky. Moustachial streak indistinct. Bill 

 blue. Cere and legs yellow. Length 13 in. Female : upper 

 parts reddish brown, with bluish black transverse bars ; wings 

 darker ; under parts paler ; length 15 in. Young, like female, 

 but paler. 



Language. A sharp scream, like " kee-kee-kee." 



Habits. It hovers (hence Windhover) when on the look-out 

 for its prey a distinctive habit. On spying some quarry, it 

 falls plumb to the ground and seizes it. Wings rather short, 

 but flight is rapid and graceful. 



Food. Mice chiefly; also small birds, frogs, and various 

 kinds of insects. 



Nest. April. One brood. 



Site. Very often in some old Crow's nest, among ruins, or 

 on ledge of sea-cliffs, &c. 



Materials. If any sticks, grass, &c. 



Eggs. Four to six. Keddish white, spotted and blotched 

 with brick-red; variable. 



OSPEEY (Pandion haliaetus). 



As a resident very rare. It appears as a spring and autumn 

 migrant rather more commonly. It may still breed in some 

 favourable spots in Scotland. 



Haunts. Sea-coast, estuaries, and inland waters. 



Plumage. Head and nape white, streaked with brown. 

 Upper parts dark brown, glossed with purplish. Tail dark 

 brown ; under parts white. Band of pale brown spots across 

 breast. Bill blackish horn-colour. Cere and legs lead-colour. 

 Length 22 in. Female : brown marks on breast more distinct; 

 length 24 in. Young: paler above, and tail distinctly barred. 



Language. A sharp, shrill cry or scream. 



Habits. It hovers much like the Kestrel, and plunges down 

 into the water to take its prey. Flight rapid and graceful. 



Food. Fish. 



Nest. April or May. One brood. 



Site. At the top of some tree, or on some isolated rock ; 

 always near water. 



Materials. Sticks and turf, lined with wool and moss. 



Eggs. Two or three. Creamy white, well blotched with 

 chestnut-red and claret, with purplish underlying markings. 



