THE ZOOLOGIST. 



THIRD SERIES. 



Vol. XVL] JANUARY, 1892. [No. 181, 



THE ALLEGED FORMER NESTING OP THE OSPREY 

 IN THE ENGLISH LAKE DISTRICT. 



By A. G. More, F.L.S. 



The approaching publication of a Fauna of the English 

 Lake District leads me to offer a few remarks on a subject 

 which has already been treated at some length by the Rev. H. A. 

 Macpherson, in 'The Zoologist' for 1889 (p. 256), and as my 

 name is there mentioned in a foot-note, I wish to explain, in as 

 few words as possible, how the matter seems to me to stand. 



Willughby, in his 'Catalogue of English Birds' (Book I. 

 chap. ix. of " The Ornithology," p. 21), gives three species, viz.: — 



1. "The Eagle," called also on p. 58 the "Golden Eagle" 



(Aquila chrysaetus). 



2. "The Sea-Eagle or Osprey, Haliseetus sive Ossifraga" 



(Haliceetus albicilla). 



3. "The Bald Buzzard, Balbusardus Anglorum " {Pandion 



haliceetus). 



It is under the " Sea-Eagle or Osprey" that Willughby speaks 

 of the aery in Whinfield Park, Westmoreland. Pennant also, as 

 well as the best recent authorities, refer this nest to the White- 

 tailed Eagle, for, if it had belonged to the Osprey, Willughby 

 would have mentioned it under his " Bald Buzzard." So far, 

 then, from stating distinctly that Pandion haliceetus used to 

 breed in Westmoreland, it is clear that Willughby was referring 



ZOOLOGIST. JAN. 1892. B 



