OSPREY. 211 



The eggs are generally six in number. The ground 

 is cream colour, which is almost completely hidden 

 with rich reddish-brown blotches. These markings, 

 however, are often collected round the large end of the 

 egg, or sometimes are not nearly so thickly distributed. 

 The Kestrel was never a favourite for hawking, though 

 it was occasionally used ; its flight is so much slower 

 than that of the Merlin or Hobby. According to old 

 books on hawking, the Sparrow Hawk was considered 

 proper for a priest, while the Kestrel fell to the lot of 

 the knave or servant. 



The Kestrel has always been a favourite at Queen- 

 wood for taming purposes, as it breeds all around in 

 great abundance ; but we have never had them so 

 tame as our Crows and Jackdaws. They can however 

 be perfectly tamed and made to come at call. Some 

 years ago an account was given in the Zoologist of a 

 Kestrel which was taken young, and when full grown 

 was given its liberty, but it declined to leave the place. 

 In the spring it paired ; the nest was in a dovecot 

 near ; the eggs were not hatched that year, but they 

 were the succeeding year. This bird used to come 

 every day to the window of the house, and on its 

 being opened would enter and was fed by the children. 

 His mate never ventured so far, but would stop when 

 within a short distance of the window. 



OSPREY. 



PANDION HALLETUS. 



Family FALCONID^. Genus PANDION. 



Fish Hawk Mullet Hawk. 



The Osprey belongs to the Eagle tribe, and is one 

 of the smallest of them. It is now a very rare bird 



