eres 
once more disturbance and greed intervened. Nevertheless, occupancy continued down 
to 1887, when a grievous thing happened in an adjoining county, at a new site never before 
oceupied, followed by a vicious battle between surviving birds in 1888. We cannot in this 
place relate all these grievous circumstances, but we give our own experiences in 1892, which 
will, we believe, suffice to call forth expression and condemnation of the acts, and assist, we 
sincerely trust, in influencing those who can do so to protect our Ospreys of the future. 
We visited an Osprey’s nest in Strathspey one day in early May, 1892. One bird alone 
was seen. The nest was complete, even to the last shred of lining, but empty. We picked 
up a first primary wing-feather at the root of the tree, beneath the nest, shot-shattered. The 
direction of the shot was clearly traceable, gapping the inner web at one place, and searing 
the rest of the web in the direction of the body. The shot must have then struck the wing 
bone close to the base of the quill (right wing), causing distention, or otherwise cutting or 
affecting the muscle, resulting in the casting of the quill. The quill appeared perfectly fresh ; 
so fresh, indeed, that we came to the conclusion at the time—one which became strengthened 
afterwards—that the eggs were taken and the old bird shot early on that same Monday 
morning, or on the previous day. 
We hope some steps can be taken by the proprietors of land where the Osprey still holds 
precarious domicile; and, indeed, one step towards the desirable attainment—the perfect 
preservation of these now rare and harmless birds—has been taken by a well-known and 
influential society —the Zoological Society of London. This Society has repeated the wise 
policy inaugurated in 1890, when they awarded their chief medals for the preservation of 
another of our own rare species—the Great Skua—in Shetland. We believe proprietors 
of Osprey-haunted homes will double or treble their energy, and resolve that such shameful 
treatment be guarded against for ever in the future. We write purely in the interest of our 
feathered friends, and, as the season advances now, it is not too early to publicly draw attention 
to the state of affairs in Ospreydom, in further preparation for 1897. 
The two medals of the Zoological Society have been awarded to the present representatives 
of the families of Grant of Rothiemurchus—the present proprietor being John Peter Grant, 
Esq. ; and Cameron of Locheil—the present proprietor bemg Donald Cameron, Esq. 
The above notes were written in 1895. Since then the Ospreys of Rothiemurchus have 
twice taken off their young, and an additional site has been occupied on Locheil’s property. 
Alas! however, birds continue to migrate and suffer death at English and other localities, far 
removed from their breeding haunts, and it is here, perhaps, where we, who desire their 
protection, most require the aid and application of the law. 
Educational Series.—No. 1.—OWLS. No. 2._WOODPECKERS. No. 3.—_STARLING. No. 4.— 
—SWALLOWS. No. 5.—KINGFISHER. No. 6.—OSPREY. No. 7.—DIPPERS. No. 8.—NIGHTJAR. 
No. 9.—TITMICE. No. 10.—KESTREL. No. 114.—PLOVERS. ; 
Others in course of preparation. 
Copies of the above may be obtained from the Society’s Publishing Department, Knowledge Office, 
326, High Holborn, W.C., or from the Hon. Sec., Mrs. F. E. Lemon, Hillcrest, Redhill, on the following 
terms:—Post free: three copies of any one number of the Series, 1d.; one dozen, 3d.; 100, Is. 6d. 
Assorted packets, one copy of any six numbers, 2d.; one copy of any twelve, or two copies of any six 
numbers, 4d.; or 50 assorted numbers, Is. Special terms for larger quantities to County Councils, the 
Constabulary and Schools. 
‘The Society’s Publishing Office, Knowledge, 326, High Holborn, London, W.C. 1896, 
