FROM SPAIN. 469 
it is so abundant in the Salzkammergut. There the Traun, 
Wolfgang, Mond, and Atter lakes are its favourite haunts, 
and it usually builds on the cliffs which rise straight above 
the water. Hvery year there are several nests at the Traunsee, 
one or two quite close to the lake, the others in a narrow 
valley which runs between the well-known Traunstein and 
the rocky Gassenkegel, and which keeps decreasing in width 
until it finally becomes a mere ravine among the rugged 
chamois mountains. There the nests are situated in the 
abrupt precipices high above the region of the trees; and 
some years ago, when out after chamois in August, I saw 
several young Ospreys circling together round the lofty 
pinnacles of the rocks. 
The birds that live on the Traunsee make regular excur- 
sions along the shores of the lake, where one frequently sees 
them close to the steamer. They also fly daily and with 
absolute punctuality up and down the Traun, often ascending 
the river almost as far as Ischl. Every year one could easily 
shoot several of them from the Ebensee road, for they come 
from the lake to hunt in the river at the same time every 
day. 
It is beautiful to see the active Osprey hovering like a 
hawk high above the water, and keeping in a fixed position, 
as if held by a charm, until it suddenly plunges into the 
foaming mountain-stream with such arrowy speed that the 
water closes over it, and the next moment it flies off with a 
slim trout in its claws. 
Nor is it only on the large rivers that the Osprey hunts, 
but it also seeks its prey in the very narrow valleys of the 
high mountains, especially during migration. In April, for 
example, I once found it busily catching fish on the Murz 
in the Murzthal, not far from Neuberg. In Spain I never 
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