THE BITER BIT. 49 



flock near the cliffs, observed an osprey rising 

 with difficulty from the sea, and bearing in his 

 claws a large fish, with which he alighted near the 

 edge of the precipice. Running up hastily to the 

 spot, and perceiving the distress of the bird, who 

 appeared equally incapable of carrying off his 

 prize, or of disengaging himself from it, but looked, 

 as the boy expressed it, " as if he was stuck in a 

 trap," he disabled and subsequently despatched 

 him with his crook. I saw this specimen after it 

 had been set up by a clever taxidermist,* who, to 

 commemorate the particulars of its capture, had 

 mounted it on a large fish, with the claws firmly 

 imbedded in its scaly back. 



What a singular fate for any predacious animal 

 to meet with when obeying the dictates of what 



* Mr. Swaysland, of Brighton, who has done much 

 within the last few years to elevate the character of his art. 

 From a correct knowledge of the proportions and attitudes 

 of birds the result of out-door observation he succeeds 

 in restoring to each its peculiar form and expression. In- 

 deed, his specimens exhibit a life-like spirit which I have 

 never seen surpassed, and contrast advantageously with 

 those unhappy families of woodpeckers and kingfishers 

 which one sometimes sees trying to stand in impossible 

 attitudes within the shop-window of the ordinary bird, 

 stuffer. 



