1 7 o OSPREYS. 



THE OSPREYS. 

 Order PANDIONES. 



The osprey (Pandion haliaetus), together with two species of the Oriental 

 genus Polioaetus, constitute not only a family (Pandionidce), but, according to 

 Dr. Sharpe, a separate order, which appears to connect the owls with the diurnal 

 birds of prey. While resembling the latter in the lateral position of the eyes, 

 which are not furnished with a distinct disc, and their firm, hard plumage, 

 they agree with the owls in the fourth toe being reversible, as well as in the 

 form of the cannon-bone or metatarsus, which has the bony bridge over the 

 hollow at the upper end, and likewise in the general form of the lower end of 

 the tibia, 1 although the latter retains the bony bridge which has been lost in 

 the owls. Moreover, the osprey agrees with the owls, and thereby differs from 

 the typical diurnal birds of prey, by the absence of a distinct aftershaft to the 

 feathers. In the present group the nostrils are not concealed by bristles ; and 

 the toes are naked, and furnished beneath with spicules like those of the fish -owls. 

 The osprey, or fishing -hawk, is the sole representative of its genus, and is 

 characterised by the length of its wings, and naked and rather short metatarsus, 

 which is entirely covered with reticulate scales. In length the osprey varies from 

 22 to 24 inches. In colour the beak is black, the cere blue, and the iris yellow. 

 The elongated feathers at the tip of the head and nape of the neck are whitish, 

 streaked with brown ; the upper surface of the body and wings is dark brown, 

 with the ends of the primaries black, and that of the tail two shades of brown. 

 Beneath, the chin and throat are white, the upper part of the latter being marked 

 with a pale brown band; while the abdomen, thighs, and under tail-coverts are 

 also white. The wing is partly white and partly brown beneath, and the lower 

 surface of the tail is white, barred with greyish brown. The legs and toes are blue. 



Following the views of most English writers, that there is but a single repre- 

 sentative of the genus, the osprey has an almost cosmopolitan distribution, although 

 it is unknown in the extreme south of South America, as well as in parts of 

 Oceania. In England it is a rare summer visitor, but it used formerly to breed 

 in many parts of Scotland, where it is now well-nigh exterminated. For nearly a 

 century a pair have, however, bred at Loch-an-Eilan Castle. In 1890 three birds 

 appeared at the nesting-place, one of which, after a fierce encounter, was killed, 

 whereupon the others disappeared. In 1891 a pair again visited the district, 

 but, instead of taking up their old quarters, selected Loch Merlich some miles 

 distant as their abiding - place. Here they were unfortunately disturbed, but 

 in 1892 they once more reappeared at Loch - an - Eilan, where effective measures 

 have been taken to secure them from molestation. The osprey feeds almost 

 exclusively on fish, which it captures both at sea and in fresh waters; and it 

 is doubtless for the purpose of holding its slippery prey that the fourth toe is 

 reversible, and the soles of the feet covered with spicules. Sir J. Richardson 

 writes that " when looking out for its prey, it sails with great ease and elegance, 

 in undulating and curved lines, at a considerable altitude above the water, from 



1 1 have not had the opportunity of examining the leg-bones of Polioaetus. 



