REVIEW* (Continued). 



The eleventh order and the last in this book, is that of Aecipitres^ 

 or diurnal birds of prej. The first family, Pand'ionidce^ has been the 

 subject of much discussion. It contains only one genus, and the' 

 genus only one species, f the common osprey {Pandion halicetus). 



If there were more sorts of ospreys, they would very likely get aa 

 order to themselves. As things stand, it is qaiite as much custom as 

 conviction that classes them with the eagles instead of the owla. 

 The structure of the leg and foot, and of the plumage, which has no 

 a,ftershaft, are owlish, while the appearance, habits and eggs are those 

 of eagles or, rather^ of falcons. These last, indeed, rarely catch fish, 

 and the osprey seldom anything else ; but their ways of finding prey 

 and stooping on it are much alike. 



The ospreyt is common throughout our province, wherever there 

 is water deep enough to hold fish of a pound or more in weight. It 

 can carry off m,uch larger fish, probably up to its own weight or 

 near it, and will not despise one not bigger than a man's middle finger. 

 Such prey are gripped by the rough soles of the toes rather than with 

 the talons, as may be illustrated, in a freshly amputated foot, by 

 drawing tight the flexor tendon — an interesting study with any bird's 

 foot. However, the ospreys are so great ornaments to our waters, 

 and so little wanted in museums, that we hope they may be spared 

 shot and steel. They are perfectly harmless to man, unless he keeps 

 fish-ponds, and their plumage is of poor effect in a lady's hat. 



The next family is that of the vultures. Although these are very 

 easily distinguished from the nobler birds of prey by appearance, 

 they are only separated, as a family, by the absence of true feathers 



* The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma ; published under the authority 

 of the Secretary of State for India iu Council, edited by W. T. Blanford.— Birds, Vol. Ill, 

 by W. T. Blanford, F.E.S., London. 



t Our Author, apparently, includes the American and Australian ospreys in the Old 

 World species. 



t The English name " osprey " is probably derived indirectly from the Latin "ossifraga" 

 (bone-smasher) , unhappily, as our bird does not break bones. Our translators of the Bible, 

 indeed, malfe " the ossif rage and the o spray " two different birds ia Exodug, XI, 13. But 

 their "ossifrage" was probablj-a real "bone-smasher," a Lammergeyer, in short. The 

 Hebrew word is " Peres," which is said to come from a root, meaning to break or crush. 

 The Hebrew for osprey, on the othei- hand, is " Azaniah," so fine a word that one regrets 

 its not having come into scientific use. The present s^^ecific name, indeed, has an unusually 

 good " priority," being Pliny's. 



