THEOSPRBY. ^5 



THE OSPREY, OR FISHING HAWK 



(^FalcOy or Pandion Haliantus.) 



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

 The sailing Osprey high is seen to soar 

 With broad unmoving wing ; and circling slow. 

 Marks each loose straggler in the deep below; 

 Sweeps down like lightning, plunges with a roar, 

 And bears his struggling victim to the shore. 



This bird is always found on the sea-shore, or neat 

 risers or lakes, as it feeds entirely on fish. It is common 

 in Great Britain, and also in America, where large colonies 

 are found of it, the birds living together like rooks. " When 

 looking out for its prey," says Dr. Richardson, "it sails 

 with great care and elegance, in undulating and curved 

 lines" at a considerable height above the water, till it per- 

 ceives its prey, when it pounces down upon it. It seizes 

 the fish with its claws, sometimes scarcely appearing to dip 

 its feet in the water, and at other times plunging entirely 

 ander the surface with force sufficient to throw up a con- 

 siderable spray. It emerges again, however, so speedily, as 

 to render it evident that it does not attack fish swimming 

 at any great depth." 



The Osprey builds a large nest either on trees or rocks, 

 ^ud lays two or three eggs, which have a reddish tinge, and 

 are spotted with brown at the larger end. The old birds 

 feed the young ones even after they have left the nest, and 

 »nl7 rear one brood in the year. 



