OSPUEY. — PancUon haliuMltis. 



the diurnal birds of prey. The coh^iir of the Urubitinga is nearly black, diversified with 

 some greyish marks ujDon the wings, and the white tail-coverts and base of the tail. The 

 beak is powerfully made, and veiy convex above, and the claws are very sharply pointed. 

 The colour of the legs and cere is yellow, and the tarsus is marked in front with a series 

 of shield-like scales. When young, the plumage of the Urulntinga is very different from 

 that of the adult bird, being largely mixed with yellow and dark brown. It is always to 

 be found near rivers, lakes, and swamps, as it feeds upon the aquatic reptiles which are 

 found so plentifully in such localities, and also upon the smaller mammalia which also 

 inhabit wet and marshy situations. 



One of the most interesting of the predaceous birds which belong to Great Britain is 

 the celebrated Ospeey, or Fishing Hawk. This fine bird was formerly very common in 

 England, but is now but rarely seen within the confines of the British Isles, although 

 isolated sjiecies are now and then seen. 



As the bird is a fish-eater, it is generally observed on the sea-coast or on the banks of 

 some large river, but has occasionally been observed in some comparatively waterless situa- 

 tion, where it has j^robably been driven by stress of weather. In some parts of Scotland 



