186 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



The distinctness or identity of the European nnd Xorth American Ospreys 

 can only be determined liy tlie ct)niparison of a very lar<,'e series; this we 

 have not been aide to do, and although it is our belief that tliey shoidd 

 not be se])arated, the impressions received from a close inspection of the 

 specimens liefore us (twenty-seven American and eighteen European) seem 

 to indicate the propriety of distinguishing them as races. 



Tiie male of the pair described appears to be perfectly identical, in all 

 respects excejit size, with a very perfect, finely mounted European male ; 

 indeed, the oidy discre])ancy is in the size, the wing of the Euvojjean bird 

 being only nineteen inclies, instead of twenty inches as in the American. 

 The female, however, differs from European females in hiiving the brown 

 on the l)reast in the form of detaclied faint spots, instead of a continuous 

 grayish-brown wash, more or less continuous. 



The types of our descriptions are the only specimens of the American 

 series which sliow even an approach to the amount of spotting on the breast 

 constant in birds from Europe. 



The American bird, as indicated by the series before us, wonld seem to be 

 ratlier the larger ; for tlie European specimens measure uniformly about an 

 inch less than tlie American in length of the wing. 



In all the American specimens, of both sexes, the shafts of the tail- 

 feathers are co itiniiously white, while in the European they are clear white 

 only at the roots or for the basal half. 



While, in consideration of the above facts, I am for the present compelled 

 to recognize the American Pandion under the distinctive name of carulincn- 

 sis, I may say, that, if any European birds occur with the breast immacu- 

 late, — no matter what the proportion of specimens, — I shall at once waive 

 all claims to distinctness for the American bird. 



LIST OK tPEClMENS KXAMINED. 



National Mnseiim, 7; Pliiladeliihia Auadeiny, ,3; New York Mnsetim, I (Brazil); 

 Boston Society, (5 ; Museum Canil)riilge, 9 ; Cab. G. X. Lawrence, 1 ; Coll. R. Riiigway, 1. 

 Total, 28. 



Afensv rem en ts. 



».r. Wing. I Tail. 



|<? I 19.00-20.50 I lo.rtO-10..")0 



Culmen. Tarsus. Mirlillt Tot. Specimtna 



1.35- . 2.25-2.40 1.80-1.85 



u 



I? I 18.'5-in.00 ! 8.80- O.no 1 1.2.")- 1.35 2.00 -2.25 1.70-1.80 4 | 



Second and third tiuill.s lonirest ; first shorter or lonprer than fdtli. 



Habits. The Fish Hawk of Xorth America, whether we regard it as a 

 race or a distinct species from that of the Old World fauna, is found through- 

 out the continent, from the fur regions around Hnilson's Bay to Central 

 America. According to j\[r. Hill, it is seen occasionally in Jamaica, and, as 

 I learn by letter from Dr. Gundlach, is also occasionally met witli in the 

 island of Cuba ; but it is not known to breed in either place. Dr. Wood- 



