THE OSPREYS. 
Ill 
although of late years their services in the destruction of 
vermin has been more generally recognised. 
Kest. — None. Sometimes the eggs are surrounded by cast- 
up pellets, but no regular nest is made. The eggs are laid in 
May, seldom as early as April, but young birds have been 
found as late as November and December. 
Eggs. — From three to seven in number ; white, with little or 
no gloss. Axis, i’5-i'7 ; diam., i’i-i‘3. 
THE BIRDS OF PREY. ORDER ACCIPITRES. 
Without fully enumerating the many anatomical and osteo- 
logical characters which distinguish these birds, it is sufficient 
to note that Accipitrine Birds have a desmognathous, or 
“ bridged,” palate, and the external characters are easily recog- 
nisable. Thus the hooked and raptorial bill is peculiar to the 
Birds of Prey, taken in conjunction with the cere, or bare skin 
at the base of the bill. The Passerine Family of .Shrikes, or 
l.aniidc?. have also a hooked or raptorial bill, but they have no 
cere, and lack the powciful talons which are also a conspicuous 
feature in the Accipitres. The young birds are covered with 
down, and remain in a helpless condition in the nest for a 
considerable period, being nurtured by the old birds on animal 
food. As a general rule, the female is a larger and more 
powerful bird than the male. 
THE OSPREYS. SUB-ORDER PANDIONES. 
The Ospreys occupy an intermediate position between the 
Owls and the typical Birds of Prey. The skeleton is especially 
Owl-like, but the eyes are placed laterally in the head, and there 
is no facial disk. Like the Owls, however, the outer toe is 
reversible, and is capable of being turned forwards or back- 
wards, a great advantage to a fish-catching bird, and the sole 
of the foot is covered with numerous small spicules, which are 
of great advantage to the Osprey in holding its finny prey. 
The range of the Ospreys is almost cosmopolitan, and there 
is only one species representing the Sub-order. The Osprey 
