RAPTORES. o 



In September, 1865, a pair of Ospreys fre- 

 quented for some days a sheet of water on the 

 estate of Mr. J.* D. Taylor, of Southgate. As 

 this property is in a ring fence, and strictly pre- 

 served, the Ospreys no doubt discovered an agreeable 

 resting-place, and finding themselves undisturbed for 

 some time, remained, and were observed to capture 

 fish, which they carried to the mast-head of a plea- 

 sure-boat, where they devoured it. In so doing, 

 the boat was rendered so dirty as for some time 

 afterwards to be unfit for use. At night it was 

 supposed that they roosted in the adjoining wood. 

 It would seem that the pleasure derived from obser- 

 vation of these noble birds in a state of freedom 

 was excelled by a desire to possess one or both 

 of them; and unfortunately, with this view, they 

 were several times shot at. Instead of the desired 

 result, however, this only had the effect of driving 

 them away. They visited a piece of water about 

 four miles distant, belonging to a friend of Mr. 

 Taylor's, at Enfield, and soon afterwards disappeared, 

 and were not again seen. 



PEREGRINE FALCON, Falco peregrinus. This noble 

 bird was formerly not uncommon in the winter 

 and early spring, when gunners were not so nu- 

 merous, and Ducks and Teal more plentiful than at 

 present in our brooks and reservoirs. A pair of 

 these birds for many years frequented the top of 



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