The Osprey 



crossed by six or eight dusky bars, the alternate spaces grayish brown on the outer 

 webs, whitish on the inner; head and neck chiefly white, the crown black or black- 

 striped centrally; nape narrowly and cervix centrally black-striped; an irregular dusky 

 band proceeding backward from eye; feathers of occiput loosely ruffled, or presenting 

 a crested appearance; underparts white, sometimes rufous-spotted on breast, but usually 

 immaculate; lining of wing mottled, — white and fuscous near edge, remainder white 

 or buffy, dusky-barred distally; bill and claws black; cere and base of bill bluish black; 

 feet bluish gray; iris yellow and red. Adult female: Similar but breast heavily marked 

 with yellowish brown or fuscous. Immature: Like adult, but feathers of upper- 

 parts bordered terminally with white or buffy. The same distinction obtains between 

 the sexes as in case of adults. Length 533.4-635 (21.00-25.00); wing 431.8-520.7 

 (17.00-20.50); tail 177.8-254 (7.00-10.00); culmen 30.5-35.6 (1. 20-1. 40). 



Recognition Marks. — Brant size; extensive white below distinctive for this 

 group; labored flight; river-, lake-, and ocean-haunting ways. 



Nesting. — Nest: An immense mass of sticks, broad-topped, lined centrally 

 with bark-strips and soft materials; placed on top of trees of various heights, or on 

 isolated rocks of rivers, etc. Eggs: 2 to 4; dull or buffy white, heavily spotted, 

 blotched, or overspread with chocolate; rarely almost or quite unmarked. Av. size 

 62.2 x 46 (2.45 x 1. 81). Season: May 1-20; one brood. 



Range of Pandion haliaetus. — Nearly cosmopolitan. Wanting only in the colder 

 Arctic regions, the southern portion of South America, and New Zealand. 



Range of P. h. carolinensis. — North and South America; breeds from north- 

 western Alaska, northwestern Mackenzie, central Keewatin, southern Ungava, and 

 Newfoundland, south to the Gulf Coast, western Mexico, and Lower California. 

 Winters from the southern United States south through middle America and sparingly 

 to Peru and Paraguay. 



Occurrence in California. — Fairly common during migrations, especially 

 interiorly. Breeds sparingly upon the Santa Barbara Islands and in a few localities 

 along the seacoast north to Humboldt Bay. Has bred also at Eagle Lake, on the 

 Kaweah River near Woodlake, Tulare County (Tyler), and probably at Goose Lake 

 (June, 1913). Winters very sparingly along the seacoast (records from Farallon 

 Islands, Santa Cruz Island, Santa Barbara (March 18, 1921), and San Diego. 



Authorities. — Gambel (Pandion carolinensis) , Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., vol. 

 iii., 1846, p. 45 (Catalina Id., etc.) ; Fisher, Hawks and Owls of the U. S., 1893, p. 130, pi. 

 18, (food, etc.); Sheldon, Condor, vol. ix., 1907, p. 187 (Eagle Lake; desc. nests) \Grin- 

 nell, Pac. Coast Avifauna, no. II, 1915, p. 69 (Calif, status); Howell, Pac. Coast Avi- 

 fauna, no. 12, 1917, p. 58 (s. Calif, ids.). 



WHETHER or not fish is proper brain food depends, as some one has 

 wittily remarked, "more upon the brain than it does upon the fish." An 

 exclusive diet of fish has not made the Fish Hawks either brainy or 

 valiant. We need not be troubled on the latter score, though, for in a 

 family where prowess and tyranny are almost synonymous, it is a com- 

 fort to find birds who mind their own business and exhibit a proper 

 humility. Ospreys are simple-hearted, honest folk, and they deserve 

 protection, if for no better reason, simply because they are inoffensive and 

 picturesque. The fact that these birds require a few edible fish for their 



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