Ospreys Fishing 255 
When an Osprey leaves its nest or perch among the cliffs, it 
usually flies seaward in a straight line for some distance, and then 
commences a series of wide sweeps and curves until it is out of 
sight. When fishing, it flies in circles with motionless wings about 
200 ft. above the sea until it detects a fish below, when it moment- 
arily checks its pace and flaps its wings and, if satisfied with what 
it sees, drops like a stone into the waters, generally disappearing 
altogether and throwing up a small column of foam. Next instant 
it emerges, rarely without something in its talons, and wings its way 
by a steady flapping flight to the rock or point of vantage where it 
can make its meal in peace. Sometimes, just before it touches the 
water, it suddenly checks its fall by a few vigorous flaps and then 
soars upward to recommence the chase. In such cases, in all proba- 
bility the fish the bird had selected when circling high above the 
water had either dived away or was found to be at too great 
a depth for a successful pounce. 
Most people have heard of the remarkable transparency of 
smooth water when seen from a height above, which at times 
presents to the balloonist the optical illusion of there being no 
water at all ina pond. I first saw this when crossing the Frensham 
ponds in a War balloon. As is usual, the approach of the balloon 
caused great alarm to the fowls and ducks in the immediate neigh- 
bourhood, the hens clucking violently and running off to take 
cover from view, whilst the ducks scattered about the surface of 
the water and dived vigorously. From the height we were, the 
diving ducks, when once they ceased to disturb the surface, had the 
appearance of ducks flapping about on dry ground, for the weeds 
at the bottom of the shallow pond seemed to our eyes to be exposed 
to the air. No doubt the eye of the Osprey is trained to gauge 
correctly the depth below the surface of the fish it contemplates 
making a meal off, but it must be a very delicate adjustment that 
permits of the necessary degree of accuracy. 
