HOW TO KNOW THE BIRDS 



25 



The Osprey, or Fish Hawk, is so rare 

 that we need only refer to its distinguishing 

 features — namely, pale blue legs, feet, and 

 cere, which in other species of Hawk are 

 of various shades of yellow. Its outer 



the winter it is somewhat gregarious, 

 arriving here from more northern climes 

 at al)out the same time as the Woodcock. 

 All other British Owls— Barn, Tawny, 

 and Long-horned (for \ong-ecircd is rather 



A PAIR OF OsPKhi^ AND THEIR NEST 



toe is reversible, the legs are comparatively 

 short, and the feet are prickly under- 

 neath, to assist its long and much-curved 

 claws in holding its slippery prey ; the 

 scalp feathers are slightly elongated, and 

 give the bird when at rest the appearance 

 of having put on its cap with the peak 

 pointing backwards. 



The connecting link between dav- and 

 night-feeding raptorial birds, so far as 

 habits, if not structure, are concerned, is 

 to be found in the Short-eared Owl. for 

 during the spring and summer months 

 it much resembles the Harriers ; it nests 

 upon the ground, and may be observed 

 hawking for prey with buoyant flight over 

 the marshes and moorlands in full day- 

 light. Though one of our rarer British 

 breeding birds, its numbers are greatl\' 

 augmented in autumn, and throughout 

 4 



OSPREY. 



a misnomer, the feather 

 tufts on the head hav- 

 ing no connection with 

 the ears) — are all strict- 

 ly nocturnal, and hence 

 more often heard than 

 seen. All are specially 

 equipped with soft 

 plumage for noiseless 

 flight, and all have 

 lovely large and cat-like eyes, which they 

 blink strangely when aroused in daylight. 

 The Tawny or Brown Owl hoots loudh- 

 and resonantly : the White or Barn Owl, 

 which is by far the most common, hisses, 

 snores, and shrieks ; whilst the Long- 

 horned Owl mews and barks. The iris 

 of the Barn Owl's eyes is black, that of 

 the Tawnv Owl dark blue, whilst in all 

 other species it is j'eliow. 



