6850 Birds. 



the tail-coverts white, and Warner had only hearsay evidence to 

 depend upon. I am not aware that either kind of eagle has visited 

 the island since the instances mentioned by Mr. Bury (Zool. 516). 



Osprey. In the course of many years' residence at Bembridge 

 I have only twice met with this noble bird ; its visits to any part of 

 the Isle of Wight are indeed few and far between. On the 10th of 

 September, 1856, I saw an osprey resting upon one of the "booms" 

 which mark the entrance to Brading Harbour; when disturbed it rose 

 leisurely, and, after a short flight, struck at a fish in the channel, 

 close to the village ; being then descried by several gulls it was 

 driven by them from its fishing-ground. On the 2nd of May, 1859, 

 another osprey visited our harbour, and was observed for some 

 time hovering above the shallow water which covers the mud-flats 

 at high tide. The wind being rather high, I was enabled to 

 approach sufficiently near to see the bird lowering its talons and pre- 

 paring to strike each time that it descended towards the water; just 

 then some rooks that were passing mobbed the osprey, and it flew 

 straight away, surrounded by a cloud of its clamorous persecutors. 

 In neither instance was the bird seen to return, though anxiously and 

 often looked for. 



Kestrel. In the crop of a young male bird, shot in May, 1859, 

 were found several spotted newts {Lissoiriton punctatus). Though it 

 is well known that different kinds of reptiles are eaten by the kestrel, 

 I do not think any writer has mentioned its preying upon the newt ; 

 and as in spring the newts do not frequent the land, it would seem 

 that the hawk, in this instance, must have captured its prey while 

 swimming near the surface of the water. 



Buzzards. All three British species are very rare. The common 

 buzzard can no longer be reckoned indigenous, if indeed it be not the 

 rarest of the three. The roughlegged and honey buzzards have been 

 lately killed at least once, and in spring and autumn buzzards of some 

 kind are occasionally seen passing over the island at a considerable 

 elevation. In one instance, a buzzard thus observed at Bembridge 

 was followed and buffeted by two smaller birds resembling sparrow- 

 hawks. 



Harriers are very rarely met with, and it is believed that the hen 

 harrier no longer breeds in the island. A single example of the marsh 

 harrier, obtained at Freshwater in May or June, 1855, came under the 

 notice of Mr. F. Bond. Of Montagu's harrier I have lately examined 

 an adult male specinien, belonging to Mr. Wavell, of Newport. 

 Another was shot near Freshwater, in August, 1858, as 1 am informed 

 by Mr. Rogers. 



