RAPTORES: FALCONID^:. 137 



large birds, and various quadrupeds. During spring and 

 summer, instead of fishing for itself, it watches the fish- 

 hawk, and, as soon as the latter rises from the water 

 with a fish, it rushes forth in pursuit, and the indus- 

 trious bird is obliged to drop its well-earned prey in 

 order to save its own life, when, with the quickness of 

 thought, the eagle sweeps down and seizes the fish while 

 it is yet falling, and bears it away. This eagle enjoys 

 the honor of standing as our national emblem. 



The Genus Pandion is characterized by a rather heavy 

 form, very long wings, tarsi thick and strong and covered 

 with small circular scales, claws large, curved, and very 

 rough beneath. Three or four species are known. 



The American Fish-Hawk or Osprev, P. carolineiisis, 

 Bonap., of all temperate North America, is twenty-five 

 inches long ; the wing twenty-one inches ; the head and 

 entire under parts white ; a stripe through the eye, the 

 top of the head, and upper parts of the body, wings, and 

 tail, deep umber-brown ; the bill and claws bluish black ; 

 the tarsi and toes greenish yellow. The Osprey preys 

 wholly or mainly upon fish, and never attacks other birds. 

 When searching for food, it flies with easy flappings at 

 moderate heights, and when it spies a fish checks its 

 course, seems to poise itself for a moment, and then 

 plunges headlong and with great rapidity into the water 

 to secure its prey. Rising, it mounts into the air, shakes 

 the water from its plumage, squeezes the fish in its tal- 

 ons, and flies to feed its young, or to a tree to satisfy 

 its own hunger. The Osprey makes its nest on a tall 

 tree, generally in the vicinity of water. It is four feet 

 across, and composed of sticks, weeds, and grasses. The 

 eggs are three or four, yellowish-white, and densely cov- 

 ered with large irregular spots of reddish-brown. So mild 

 is the disposition of this bird, that it suffers others to 

 build their nests among the outer sticks of its own nest. 



