WITH BEAK AND CLAW 37 



building of it. Probably it bad been used for a 

 number of years, for such nests are usually con- 

 tinuously occupied and most Hawks mate for life. 

 One Osprey's eyrie, on a ruined castle turret in 

 Scotland, is known to have been steadily occupied 

 for a century with one short lapse of six years. 



The smell justified the belief that the nest had 

 been in long use. The Fish-Hawk is not a cleanly 

 eater, and several years' deposit of decayed bits 

 of fish give rise to a fearful odor. It almost 

 turned Shan sick and faint. 



Crouched on the only branch under the nest 

 which would bear his weight, Shan could just reach 

 the edge of the loose structure with his fingers. 

 He was chary of doing so, however, for he knew 

 that the hen-bird was on the nest and if she should 

 strike at his hand with her tearing hooked bill, it 

 would make an ugly wound. 



The nest w^as at least six feet across. A half- 

 dead branch, which projected from the great bough 

 dividing at the lower fork of the tree, would give 

 him purchase enough to swing into the nest, if it 

 would hold. But — would the dead branch hold ? 



The boy reconnoitered the situation. If he de- 

 scended to the first fork and climbed up the other 

 half of the tree, he would be able to launch himself 



