30 BRITISH BIRDS. 



wing ; the upper part of the body is brown ; the 

 two middle tail feathers the same ; the others 

 are marked on the inner webs with alternate bars 

 of brown and white : legs very short and thick, 

 being only two inches and a quarter long, and two 

 inches in circumference ; they are of a pale blue ; 

 claws black ; outer toe larger than the inner one, 

 and turns easily backward, by which means this 

 bird can more readily secure its slippery prey. 



Buffon observes that the Osprey is the most 

 numerous of the large birds of prey, and is scat- 

 tered over Europe, from Sweden to Greece, and 

 that it is found even in Egypt and Nigritia. Its 

 haunts are on the sea shore, and on the borders of 

 rivers and lakes ; its principal food is fish ; it darts 

 upon its prey with great rapidity, and undeviating 

 aim. The Italians compare its descent upon the 

 water to a piece of lead falling upon that element, 

 and distinguish it by the name of Aquila Piumbina, 

 or the Leaden Eagle. It builds on trees and lays 

 three or four eggs, of an elliptical form, rather 

 larger than those of a hen. The Carolina and 

 Cayenne Ospreys are varieties of this species. 



