Genus PANDION. 
Gen. Cuar. Beak short, strong, rounded and broad, cutting edge nearly straight. Nostrils 
oblong-oval, placed obliquely. Wings long; the second and third quill-feathers the 
longest. Legs strong and muscular; tarsi short, covered with scales. Toes free, nearly 
equal in length ; outer toe reversible; all armed with strong curved and sharp claws; 
under surface of the toes rough and covered with small pointed scales. 
OSPREY. 
Pandion halizetus, Sav. 
Le Balbuzard. 
Tuere is no species of the great family of Fadconide whose range of habitat is so universal as that of the 
Osprey; and there certainly is none to whose habits attaches more interest than to those of this noble bird. 
While some of its race prey upon quadrupeds, and others upon the feathered tribes, the Osprey gains his 
subsistence almost exclusively from the waters, the scaly tenants of that element constituting its food: hence 
it is observed, that the countries in which he takes up his abode must be at least temperate, since it is evident 
that if the waters be frozen, he would be compelled by necessity to seek a more congenial climate. Such is 
evidently the case ; and hence the Osprey is everywhere migratory, visiting the northern latitudes only during 
the months of spring and summer. In Europe this bird is but thinly dispersed; but to counterbalance this 
it is found in every portion of it, at least where wide rivers, lakes and arms of the sea offer it the necessary 
supply of food. The British Isles are not so much frequented as other parts of Europe ; and when one of these 
birds dces make its appearance, its magnitude and peculiar actions call forth the attacks of so many assailants, 
that it is either quickly destroyed or driven to seek a safer asylum elsewhere. Indeed it can hardly be said 
to be a welcome visiter, since it makes the greatest havoc among the stock of fish-ponds and -rivers, not 
readily leaving if once established where its prey abounds. 
In some parts of America the Osprey is very common, especially in the United States, where it makes its 
appearance on the return of spring: hence it is a welcome visiter, since its arrival betokens the opening of 
the rivers and the return of the hordes of fish. Here along the borders of mighty streams, undisturbed 
and unmolested save by the Bald Eagle, its professed enemy, it builds its nest in tall trees, constructing it of 
sticks and turf, so as to form a large mass, on the edges of which other small birds congregate and nidify 
without the slightest injury : in fact, the Osprey, or Fish-Hawk, is a quiet bird, with little ferocity or daring in 
his temperament. His manner of taking his prey is very remarkable: hovering for a time on wide-spread 
wings over the water, he then sails about, intently gazing on the element beneath. The moment a fish appears, 
down he plunges like an arrow, almost disappearing beneath the water, but rising in a moment, with the 
victim grasped in his strong and incurved talons : throwing the spray from his burnished plumage, he soars 
aloft, and hastens to his nest to share the spoil with his young, or feast upon it at leisure. Often, however, is 
the Osprey robbed of his prize. We have alluded to the Bald or White-headed Eagle as his foe, who frequently 
chases him when loaded with his booty, which he is forced to relinquish to his stronger opponent. The 
spirited narrative of the contest between these two birds—the one to retain, the other to obtain, the booty— 
in Wilson’s American Ornithology, is probably familiar to all our readers; if not, we recommend them to 
peruse it. The eggs are generally three, of a dull white, blotched with dark red or yellow brown. 
In the adult state of plumage, the whole of the upper surface is of a rich glossy brown ; the top and sides 
of the head are mingled white and brown, and a brown line passes from behind the eye to the shoulder ; the 
throat, chest and underparts are white slightly dashed with a few lines of rusty brown; tail barred ; cere 
and nostrils light brown; tarsi blueish lead colour ; irides yellowish orange. | 
The young are distinguished by the feathers of the upper surface being edged with whitish, and the chest 
being almost wholly of a pale brown. 
We have figured an adult and a young bird about half the natural size. 
