192 



Birds. 



water, and at others plunging entirely under the surface 

 with force sufficient to throw up a considerable spray. 

 It emerges again, however, so speedily, as to render it 

 evident that it does not attack fish swimming at any 

 great depth." The toes are armed beneath with nume- 

 rous sharp points, evidently intended to assist the bird 

 in getting a firm hold of its slippery prey. 



The Osprey builds a large nest either on trees or 

 rocks, and lays two or three eggs, which have a reddish 

 tinge, and are spotted with brown at the larger end. 

 The old birds feed the young ones even after they have 

 left the nest, and only rear one brood in the year. 



THE BLACK EAGLE. 



SOME ornithologists suppose this to be merely the golden 



