BIRDS OF PREY. 



129 



animals. In one eyrie in Germany were found the skele- 

 tons of three hundred ducks and forty hares ; but the 

 owner of the nest had undoubtedly killed, besides these, 

 many sheep, fawns, etc., which it had stripped of their 

 flesh, they being too large to be carried away entire to 

 such a height. 



220. The Osprey, or Fishing Hawk, Fig. 107, an aber- 



rant species of Eagle, is 

 spread over the whole of 

 Europe, a part of Asia, 

 and also portions of North 

 America. As its name 

 indicates, it lives on fish, 

 which it obtains by dash- 

 ing down into the water. 

 Its nest is composed of 

 sticks, sea - weed, grass, 

 and turf, laid among the 

 branches of a tree. As it 

 is repaired and added to 



every year, there is SOme- 

 . lOT.-Osprey. timeg enough to ma t e a 



cart-load. This bird, besides living on fish, differs from 

 the true Eagles also in having the legs covered with 

 scales instead of feathers. 



221. The White-headed or Bald Eagle inhabits most 

 parts of North America. It is the figure of this Eagle 

 which is on the national standard of this country. The 

 food of this bird is various. While it preys on such an- 

 imals as lambs, pigs, etc., it will eat fish whenever it can 

 take it from the Fishing Hawk. If it sees this bird rise 

 from the water with a fish in its talons, it starts off at 

 once in the pursuit. Wilson thus describes the struggle 

 that ensues : " Each exerts his utmost to mount above 

 the other, displaying, in these rencounters, the most ele- 

 gant and sublime aerial evolutions. The unencumbered 

 Eagle rapidly advances, and is just on the point of reach 



