78 THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD 
strange for a bird of prey. Honey-buzzards appear to be exemplary parents, for they are said 
to construct a bovver of leafy boughs above the nest to screen the young from the sun, the 
boughs being replaced as they wither by fresh ones. 
The honey-buzzard occurs but rarely in, England, and nowhere appears to be a very 
common bird, though it is said to be more frequently met with in Arabia and Egypt than 
elsewhere. On migration, however, it appears in unusually large numbers, the late Lord 
Lilford recording an occasion when he observed many hundreds crossing the Straits of Gibraltar 
from Spain to Africa. These were apparently on their autumnal migration to warmer winter 
quarters. 
The dash, energy, and courage which we are wont to associate with the Hawk Tribe 
have certainly not been manifest in the members of the order which we have examined so 
far; but these attributes will be evident enough in the majority of the species with which 
we are now about to deal. One of the most interesting of these fiercer forms is the OsPREY, 
or FlsiilNG-HAWlv. As its name implies, it feeds largely upon fish, which it captures with 
great dexterity, seizing them either with its feet from the surface of the water, or by plunging 
entirely beneath the surface, when it disappears amid a shower of spray, to emerge a moment 
later with a fish writhing in its talons. To ensure a firm grip of its slippery prey, the soles 
of its feet are armed with rough tubercles, whilst the foot is furthermore remarkable in that 
the outer toe can be turned backwards, so as to lie parallel with the hind toe — an arrangement 
rare in birds of the Hawk Tribe, but characteristic of the Owls and some other birds. At 
times, it would seem, the osprey seizes a fish too large 
to be raised from the water, when, owing to the firm 
hold which the claws have taken, the bird is unable 
to release itself, and is speedily dragged beneath the 
surface and drowned. Some have suggested that the bird 
falls a victim, not to inability to free itself, but rather 
to its obstinacy. 
The osprey is now rare in Great Britain, though it 
breeds occasionally in the wilder parts of Scotland. It 
enjoys an extensive range, however, being found all over 
the world. In America it appears to be very common. 
On an island “ off the eastern extremity of Long Island, 
New York,” writes Professor Newton, “ 300 nests were 
counted. The old birds were rearing their young close 
together, living as peaceably as so many rooks, and 
were equally harmless to other birds.” Colonies of this 
kind are rare among birds of prey. 
Whilst the fiercer raptorial birds, which hunt and 
kill their prey, live only upon small or medium-sized 
animals, a certain section, known as the VULTURES, feed 
upon the carcases of the largest mammals which they 
find either in the throes of death or already dead, and 
even far advanced in decomposition. Gathering to the 
feast in large crowds, even the largest bodies are soon 
demolished ; and on this account the vultures are to be 
reckoned amongst the most useful of birds, speedily 
removing matter which in hot countries would rapidly 
endanger the health of neighbouring communities. 
Many years ago a great controversy was waged over 
the question of the faculty which guides the vulture 
in the discovery of its food, since it was a matter of 
common knowledge that the traveller might sweep the 
Photo by IV. P. Dandoy F.Z.S.^ Regents Park 
EGYPTIAN KITE 
Feeding on garbage of all kinds, kites are useful birds 
in hot countries 
