26 RAPTORES. PANDION. Osprey. 



dages ; and a more open and delicate texture of feather would 

 prove no defence against the element it so often visits. 



The general flight of the Osprey is heavy, and like the 

 Common Buzzard, but at times it glides slowly along, with 

 motionless wing, Montagu* observes, that when examining 

 the water for its prey, its wings are in continual action, al- 

 though it remains stationary for a considerable time. Its su- 

 perior weight, he adds, may perhaps render it difficult to con- 

 tinue suspension with an almost imperceptible play of the 

 wings, like the Kestrel. According to Temminck -f*, it is 

 found pretty generally disseminated throughout Europe, and 

 is very abundant in Russia, Germany, and Switzerland. The 

 Nest, &c. Osprey builds in lofty trees or ruins, or amid rocks, as the 

 situation may afford, and not, as Willoughby has mention- 

 ed, among the reeds in marshy grounds. It lays three or 

 four yellowish- white eggs, blotched and speckled with red- 

 dish-brown. 



The figure at Plate 4. is that of a female bird of the natu- 

 ral size, and about two years old. 

 The male is rather smaller, but similar in plumage. 

 General Bill large, straightish at the base, and very hooked at the 

 tion!"^' ^^P' °^ ^ bluish-black colour ; cere greyish-blue. Irides 



lemon-yellow. Crown of the head vmiber-brown , the fea- 

 thers edged with white, long, slender, and acuminate ; 

 hind part of the head and nape of neck white. On 

 each side of the neck, proceeding from the posterior 

 angle of the eye, and reaching almost as far as the 

 shoulders, is a streak of blackish-brown. Throughout 

 the throat, white, with a few brown streaks and speckles. 

 On the upper part of the breast, a patch of umber- 

 brown ; this is indicative of a young bird, the adults 



• Article Osprey, in Supplement to Ornithological Dictionary, where 

 some interesting facts are given relative to the history of this bird. 



t Man. d'Ornith. 2d edit. 



