GIBB ON BARE BIRDS IN NORTHUMBERLAND. 245 



I have had many opportunities of observing the habits of the Osprey 

 in North America. The first I ever saw was in Nova Scotia, seated on 

 the decayed branch of an aged oak, stretching over an extensive sheet of 

 water, and well do I remember the gratification I derived from the sight. 

 With some precaution I succeeded in approaching unobserved a point 

 from whence I had an excellent view of him. For some time he remained 

 stationary on the branch in an upright position, and to a casual observer 

 might have been taken for a part of it, so inanimate did he appear, but 

 eventually he aroused himself to action — unfolded his expansive wings — 

 glanced momentarily arouud him, and then launched away from the tree 

 and glided over the stream. When midway across the river he fre- 

 quently poised himself and as often dashed down towards the water — 

 slightly grazing its surface, but ever and again soared aloft without dis- 

 turbing its placidity. At intervals he described a succession of beautiful 

 spiral curves, now dived through the " ethereal expanse " or bounded up- 

 ward with surpassing grace — the while intently watching his prey as I 

 could see by the curved neck and drooping head. After half-an-hour was 

 spent in these graceful movements he mounted rapidly aloft and quickly 

 attained no mean elevation, where he remained until I became almost 

 wearied out with watchiag him, but just when I was on the point of leav- 

 ing to prosecute my journey which was undertaken in anticipation of 

 meeting with Ectopistes migratoria, of which I had heard great numbers 

 were in the vicinity, he began to descend by means of repeated undulatory 

 circles. When again within pouncing distance of the stream he halted in 

 his buoyant flight — for an instant hovered over it, and then with meteoric 

 quickness plunged into the yielding element driving showers of spray in 

 all directions. When he arose he bore in his talons a noble salmon, with 

 which he hied off to his rendezvous on the oak where I doubt not he 

 " fared sumptuously " on the rich repast. At this juncture a covetous 

 desire induced me to attempt his capture, and I stealthily crawled towards 

 him through the sinuosities of the intervening ground with the view of 

 getting him within the range of my fowling-piece, but ere I could succeed 

 in my " fell purpose " he sans ceremonie " vanished from my sight like a 

 beautiful dream," by a rapid flight over the forest. 



I have met with it in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, the United States, 

 and in the Canadas. I found its habitat to be very varied, sometimes by 

 the sea-coast, occasionally in the interior by the great " inland seas," and 

 on more than one occasion in localities but ill adapted to the natural 

 economy of the bird. 



