OF THE UNITED STATES 203 



former the despoiler of the Osprey. They breed in communities, 

 as a rule, upon high trees near the water. In their big, shift- 

 lessly constructed nests each bird deposits her single white egg, 

 it having a chalky shell, not at all unlike that of a cormorant's. 

 Nestling birds have a plumage of dense white down, as in the 

 case of vultures (Gathartes), and the feathers of the adult come 

 out through this eoat as the individual matures. Adult males 

 are blackish brown above, having a metallic sheen to il ; the fe- 

 males showing white beneath, with feet of pink. But the males 

 have black feet and a scarlet gular pouch, the last being easily 

 observable while the birds are upon the wing. 



