272



On the Osprey.



weather of November and December; being fearful of losing my

friend, on whom I had already bestowed so much care, I gave

him rather more food, and so I am afraid was indirectly respon¬

sible for his death, which occurred suddenly from a fit in

December last, and when examined all his organs proved to be

clogged with fat. Such was his end, and great was my sorrow,

for although his ways were dull and uninteresting, yet he came

of a fine race, and one which is seldom seen in captivity for any

length of time, and is not very well suited for such a life.


In keeping birds of prey one has to remember that the

pursuit of their sustenance entails such violent exertion that,

unless moved by the pangs of hunger, they are the most sedentary

of birds ; and further I doubt whether, in a wild state, they ever

chase their food until driven by hunger so to do. Consequently

in aviaries, where they are regularly fed, unless their diet be

limited and they be fasted once a week, they become at once

mopish and accumulate vast stores of fat. They are well

adapted from their natural means of livelihood to sometimes go

supperless to bed, a course which only stirs them to more healthy

activity in the morning; and in captivity I recommend that they

should be fed moderately during the week, with a good feed in

the shape of fur or feather on one day, and a complete fast on the

following day. I am aware that in the case of the Osprey I did

not practise what has just been preached, which was due to my

over anxiety not to lose him, and his death proves my mistake.

There is one more point to be noted in keeping birds of prey;

contrary to general ideas they are most susceptible to cold,

probably due in part to their sedentary habits ; and the aviary in

which they are kept should be roomy and closed in on all sides,

except the front, which should face so as to get a fair percentage

of the day’s sun, while at the same time it should be so constructed

that they can always get some shade should they so desire. The

perches are best placed lengthways, the one at the back being

higher than that in front, and on the ground in front of both

perches the}'’ should be given a bath at least once a week, and

the floor should be covered with fairly coarse sand. I am not

claiming anything new or original in this method of keeping the

raptorial birds; those who have kept them will doubtless learn



