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Genus PANDION. 



Accipiter apud Biisson, Orn. i. p. 362 (1760). 

 Aquila apud Brisson, torn. < it. p. 440 (1760). 

 Falco apud Linnaeus, Syst. Nat, i. p. 129 (1766). 

 Pandion, Savigny, Syst. Ois. de l'Egypte, &c. p. 36 (1810). 

 Triorches apud Leach, Syst. Cat. B. & M. Brit. Mus. p. 10 (1816). 

 Balbusardus apud Fleming, Brit. Anim. p. 51 (1828). 



This genus contains only a single species, Pandion haliaetus, which inhabits the Palsearctic, 

 Ethiopian, Oriental, Australian, and Nearctic Regions, ranging also into the northern portions 

 of the Neotropical Region. Mr. Sharpe, indeed, separates the Australian bird as a race, or 

 subspecies, under the name of Pandion leucocephalus (Gould), on account of its smaller size ; 

 but, as stated in the following article, it appears to me that the difference in size does not 

 constitute a sufficiently good character by which it can be separated, as examples from the 

 same locality differ so greatly in size as to prove that the difference is, as a rule, individual and 

 not climatic. 



Full particulars of the habits and nidification of the Osprey are given in the following 

 article? 



Pandion haliaetus, the type of the genus, has the bill short, rounded, upper mandible with 

 the edges festooned, the tip elongated, decurved, acute ; nostrils oblong, oblique ; wings long, 

 pointed, the first quill longer than the fifth, the third longest ; tail rather long, slightly rounded ; 

 legs strong, tarsi short, covered with reticulated scales ; toes long, slender, curved, acute, free, the 

 outer one reversible ; plumage compact, the feathers wanting the accessory plumule. 



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