THE OSPREY 



PANDION HALIJETUS 



Iasgair (The Fisher), Iolair-iasgaich, Iolair-iasgair {Gaelic) ; Skopa 

 {Russian) ; formerly known in Burgundy as Crau pfeCHEROT, or 

 Crow Fisher. 



To give an account of the history of the Osprey in these 

 islands is to chronicle a succession of regrettable events 

 — events which are responsible for the loss to us of a noble 

 bird, that in former days added a great charm to many 

 a lonely loch hidden away amongst the Scottish hills. 

 To say the Osprey is extinct with us would not be quite 

 correct, since one or two birds are seen every year in 

 various parts of the country during the spring and autumn 

 migration, and there are rumours even now that a pair 

 renew their eyrie and rear their family in an unfrequented 

 spot along the west coast of Scotland. But the un- 

 fortunate fact remains that through our want of protec- 

 tion, lolair an uisge (the Eagle of the Water) as the Osprey 

 is known to the Gael, must now, to all intents and pur- 

 poses, be counted among our lost birds. Not so many 

 years ago there was scarcely a loch in Scotland but had 

 its pair of Fishing Eagles. On Loch Maree was formerly 

 an eyrie, and Loch Awe, in the Campbell country, har- 

 boured at least one pair. To Loch Tay, that famous sheet 

 of water, containing early spring salmon in their thou- 

 sands, the Os])rey made his way each year with the coming 

 of the warm season, and Loch Lomond, I believe, sheltered 

 another pair. On Loch an Eilan, under the shadow of 

 Cairngorm, and on Loch Arkaig, in the country of the 

 west coast and of Ben Nevis, the Osprey lingered till only 



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