. A history of British birds . rounded in form, the middle feathers being the longest; thelegs and toes yellow ; the claws black. In young birds the beak is black, the cere yellowish-brown,the irides brown; the plumage more uniform in colour, anddarker; the tail-feathers dark brown. In this state it hasbeen called by many authors Falco ossifragus (bone-breaker);but the term Ossifrage, as used in the Old Testament,refers, according to Canon Tristram, to the Bearded Vultureor Lammergeier {Gypaetiis bcohattis). The representation of the White-tailed Eagle here givenwas taken from a specimen in th
. A history of British birds . rounded in form, the middle feathers being the longest; thelegs and toes yellow ; the claws black. In young birds the beak is black, the cere yellowish-brown,the irides brown; the plumage more uniform in colour, anddarker; the tail-feathers dark brown. In this state it hasbeen called by many authors Falco ossifragus (bone-breaker);but the term Ossifrage, as used in the Old Testament,refers, according to Canon Tristram, to the Bearded Vultureor Lammergeier {Gypaetiis bcohattis). The representation of the White-tailed Eagle here givenwas taken from a specimen in the Gardens of the ZoologicalSociety, which formerly possessed a very remarkable varietyof this species taken in Ireland, and now in the NorwichMuseum. This has the whole of its plumage of an uniformbluish-grey colour, and has been figured in Meyers BritishBirds. Mr. St. John also mentions an example of a finesilvery white, and Mr. Robert Gray a pure white variety inthe Museum at Dunrobin. 30 ACCIPITRES. FA LCONIDJ^.. PaNDION (LiniUTSUS*). THE OSPREY, OR FISHING HAWK. PdutUon haluectns. Pandion, Savitjnyf.—]!e;ik short, strong, roiiiKled, and broad ; cutting edgenearly straight. Nostrils oblong-oval, oblique. Wings long; secoud and third([uill-feathers longest. Legs strong and muscular: tarsi short, covered withreticulated scales. Toes free, nearly equal; outer toe reversible ; all armed withsti-ong, curved, and sharp claws ; under surface of the toes rough, and coveredwith small pointed scales. Feathers wanting the accessory plumule. This bird, from its habit of feeding almost exclusively onfish, must be looked for near the sea-shore, or about riversand large lakes which may be expected to afford a plentifulsupply of the particular food it is known most to delight manner in which the Osprey seeks and obtains its prey * Faico halketus, Linnseus, Syst. Nat. Ed. 12, i. p. 1-29 (1766).t Systeme des Oiseaux de Ifigypte et de la Syrie, p. 9 (1810). OSPR
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