OSPllEY. 21 



The genus Pandion was instituted for the Osprey by 

 M. Savigny, and some other species have since been added 

 to this genus by other naturalists. 



This bird, from its habit of feeding almost exclusively on 

 fish, must be looked for near the sea-shore, or about rivers 

 and large lakes which may be expected to afford a plentiful 

 supply of the particular food it is known most to delight in. 

 The manner in Avhich the Osprey seeks its prey, and its 

 mode of obtaining it, are admirably described by the Orni- 

 thologists of America, in which country this bird is sufficient- 

 ly numerous to afford excellent opportunities of observing 

 its actions. On one island near the eastern extremity of 

 Long Island, New York, three hundred nests were counted. 

 The old birds were rearing their young close together, living 

 as peaceably as so many Rooks, and were equally harmless 

 in reference to other smaller birds. " When looking out 

 for its prey," says Dr. Richardson, " it sails with great 

 ease and elegance, in undulating and curved lines, at a con- 

 siderable altitude above the water, from whence it preci- 

 pitates itself upon its quarry and bears it off in its claws ; 

 or it not unfrequently, on the fish moving to too great a 

 depth, stops suddenly in its descent, and hovers for a few 

 seconds in the air, like a Kite or a Kestril, suspending it- 

 self in the same spot by a quick flapping of its wings ; it 

 then makes a second and, in general, unerring dart upon its 

 prey, or regains the former altitude by an elegant spiral 

 flight. It seizes the fish with its claws, sometimes scarcely 

 appearing to dip its feet in the water, and at other times 

 plunging entirely under the surface with force sufficient to 

 throw up a considerable spray. It emerges again however 

 so speedily, as to render it evident that it does not attack 

 fish swimming at any great depth."" 



" The versatility of the outer toe of the Osprey, the 



