26i Sketches of Some Common Birds. 



AMEEICAX OSPEEY. 



Those persons who live far inland, or beyond the 

 vicinity of the great lakes and larger rivers, and who 

 have never visited the resorts of the osprey, may have 

 little interest in its habits. However, it is scarcely infe- 

 rior to the eagles in the attributes of nobility. It is fre- 

 quently styled the fish eagle, and the title is not inappro- 

 priate, for it possesses many noble instincts. In strength, 

 powers of flight, and food habits, it is worthy a position 

 among its more pretentious relatives. Unlike the eagles, 

 the osprey is regularly migrator}^, and as the herald of the 

 fishing season and the period of activity and consequent 

 plenty to the toilers with net and seine, the annual return 

 of the osprey is eagerly watched. Of its regularity in 

 migration, the great ornithologist and poet, Alexander 

 Wilson, speaks in this couplet: 



" True to the season, o'er our sea-beat shore 

 The sailing osprey high is seen to soar." 



In truth, few other rapacious birds discover so many 

 agreeable and excellent traits, and we do not wonder that 

 the osprey is held in high esteem by the fishermen and 

 fiirmers of the Atlantic seaboard and other localities where 

 it is commonly found. • 



The osprey is distributed throughout nearly all the 

 temperate regions of the world, and persons who frequent 

 the seashore, both in the Old and the New World, learn 

 to associate the form and flight of the species with other 

 sights of the seaboard. Its familiarity admits of a satis- 

 factory study of its appearance and manners. A promi- 

 nent characteristic is the large development of the feet 

 and claws — surely a wonderful adaptation to its food-hab- 

 its, as the bird can exert a strong grasp on its slippery 

 prey and thus hold it securely in flight. Other noticeable 

 features are the firmness of the plumage and the unusu- 

 ally close connection of the overlapping feathers, which 

 are kept well oiled. In fact, the covering of this hardy 

 fisher is just such a diving-suit as the bird needs for the 

 Irequent plunges it makes in pursuit of its food, amply 



