190 THE SECOND BOOK OF BIRDS 
who is ready to fight throws himself on his back 
and presents his claws to the enemy. Few peo- 
ple would like to be grappled by those terrible 
claws. 
Hawks and eagles have wonderful wing power. 
Some of them can stay far up in the air an hour 
at a time. They go up in great circles with 
wings held stiffly out and not beating, till out 
of sight. Men have not yet been able to see 
quite how it is done. It is probably by using 
the wings as sailors use their sails, and making 
the wind carry them. 
The one of this family I shall tell you about 
is the Fish Hawk, or AMERICAN OspREY, be- 
cause he is found all over the United States. 
He is one of those which you will be most likely 
to see, and want to know about. 
The osprey is a large bird, about two feet 
long. He is dressed in chocolate brown, with 
white breast and white tips to many of his 
feathers. His head feathers are long, and he 
back on his neck, giving a peculiar shape to the 
head, by which you may know him at once. 
These feathers too are white, so that as he flies 
over he looks as if he were bald. He has feet 
marvelously fitted to hold slippery fish. The 
talons are sharp, and the toes long, and rough 
