22 WITH THE U. S. NATURALISTS 



Shan had good sight, and, having once before 

 seen the freebooting deed which he was again to 

 witness, he was able to follow in detail every move 

 of the aerial piracy. 



Eising slowly and heavily from the waters of one 

 of the open marshes, half-way between the place 

 where Shan had landed and the waters of Pamlico 

 Sound, could be seen a large Osprey, or Fish- 

 Hawk, with a good-sized fish gripped in its power- 

 ful claws. Only one other bird in all the world 

 has a foot like the Fish-Hawk. The outer toe is 

 reversible, so that the bird can clutch a fish with 

 two talons on either side of its body. Moreover, 

 in addition to the opposed claws, spicules or little 

 spikes stud the under surface of the toes, giving a 

 grasp which holds a live fish so firmly that all its 

 squirming is of no avail. 



This particular morning, as Shan saw, the Fish- 

 Hawk must have won a valuable prey, for the bird 

 was flying slowly and heavily, his powerful wing- 

 strokes as he made his way back to the nest con- 

 trasting with the customary soaring flight when 

 looking for his prey. 



Suddenly, from high over Shan's head, came a 

 harsh shriek, so full of threat that it could come 

 only from the throat of one fierce bird — ^the Eagle. 



