OSPBEY. 185 



accounts we have received from persons living in 

 the vicinity of their haunts, we have occasion tt> 

 think that it sometimes feeds in the air, or, at 

 least, soars to a considerable heignt, and sports 

 with its victim before coming to its resting-place. 

 Water-fowl or game, or the small animals, seem 

 very seldom attacked. It is a true fishing Eagle, 

 and with a well-appointed apparatus ; there are 

 instances on record where other prey is resorted 

 to, but we believe such to be caused by neces- 

 sity, and where the want of usual subsistence 

 could not be overcome. 



The Ospre}' seems to be frequent in some 

 other countries of Europe, particularly Norway, 

 and is otherwise widely distributed. It is very 

 common in North America, and is known under 

 the name of " Fish Hawk."* We possess speci- 

 mens from New Holland, and Temminck records 

 it from Japan and the Cape of Good Hope.f 



The intensity in the colouring of the plumage 

 of the Osprey varies in two specimens before 

 us. The upper parts in the one are very light, 

 and a great proportion of white is seen in the 

 head. In some, again, we have seen the pectoral 

 band complete ; in others, it was scarcely marked, 

 except by a few spots or streaks. The former 



* See Wilson's North American Ornithology, where 

 the history will be read with interest. 

 t Temm. Man. Supp. p. 16. 



