The Lesser Kestrel 



It may be distinguished from the Common Kestrel by 

 its smaller size and white claws. Length 12 '2 6 in.; wing 

 9-2 in. 



THE OSPREY 



Pandion halia&tus (Linnaeus) 



This species may occasionally be seen on our shallow bays 

 and estuaries or on inland lakes during the autumn migra- 

 tion, but its large size and conspicuous flight soon call forth 

 a gunner and it is either shot or frightened away. It was 

 never common in England, but in the eighteenth century it 

 used to nest in a few localities. Nowadays only one or two 

 eyries are known in the British Isles, and these are situated 

 in remote parts of the Highlands of Scotland and zealously 

 protected. Its food consists entirely of surface-swimming 

 fish, on which it plunges from a considerable height. 



The male has the head white, streaked with brown, rest 

 of the upper parts brown ; under parts white slightly spotted 

 with brown on the breast. Legs greenish blue. 



The female is rather larger and more spotted on the 

 breast. The young have buff margins to the feathers of 

 the back. Length 22 in. ; wing 19 in. 



THE CORMORANT 



Phalacrocorax carbo (Linnaeus) 



With the Cormorant we come to quite another order of 

 birds in which the feet, including the hind toe, are com- 



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