THE OSPREY. 27 
which, coupled with a desire to bite when opportunity offers, 
is evidently calculated to scare the boldest of assailants 
(Plate 8). It does not take one long to discover, however, 
that this display of fierceness is mere show, and that even 
with its formidable bill the young bird is apparently 
incapable of inflicting a painful wound. The attitudes 
assumed by young Ospreys during this “looking fierce” 
operation are often ludicrous in the extreme. They will 
spread or trail their wings, lower their heads in wicked 
fashion (Plate ga), raise their crests, and in general assume 
as formidable an aspect as possible. Sometimes they 
exhibit the power of extending the feathers of the throat 
and cheeks, forming a sort of mask. 
After standing for a few moments in this “ terrifying ” 
attitude, the strength of the young bird begins to ebb and 
his muscles to relax; he will fall back on his “‘ heels,” and his 
head will begin to droop forward. At this stage he will 
often be resting on “ all fours,” so to speak, the “ shoulders 4: 
of his wings acting as supports to the fore-part of his body. 
They gradually give way, however, and the bird’s bill 
comes closer and closer to the nest (Plate 90), until at last 
he is once more in his original prone and death-like 
position. A fresh disturbing will arouse another display 
of “ fierceness,” though less vehement, and so on until 
the youngster becomes so disinterested that one must put 
one’s hand under the bird’s body before he can be induced 
to rise to his feet. If a young Osprey is raised above the 
level of the nest, he invariably clutches at the nesting- 
material, and it is a difficult matter to release it from 
his long, curved talons. 
While their young are being thus examined, the parent 
birds circle overhead with loud screeches. Although there 
are many indubitable records of their boldly attacking 
intruders in defence of their nest,* I have found them, for 
the most part, very ready to remain at a respectful distance. 
It is only occasionally that I have met with one courageous 
* cf. “ Auk,” XII., 1895, p. 361; and Newton, “ Dictionary of Birds,” p. 662. 
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