A Persectited Osprey. 87 



a^ain hovered above the water, then white with waves. Several times 

 we saw him drop his great talons, and clutch at the air in anticipation, 

 and lowering" himself at the same time make ready for the plunge. The 

 breadth of wing, the dark colour, and as he came nearer the white head, 

 the white breast, and even the barred tail were distinctly seen, and 

 we knew the Osprey. Drifting down the wind we had approached so 

 closely that already oars were laid by, and guns grasped for the chance 

 of so grand a prize, when two Crows rapidly came on the scene, and, 

 like the Gulls on a similar occasion, began to hustle the Hawk, and soon 

 drove him from his fishing. The last we saw of him was as, encom- 

 passed by a cloud of Rooks, he swept overNunwell, and disappeared in 

 the direction of Ashey. 



These two occurrences of the Osprey at Bembridge 

 are recorded in the " Zoologist" (1860), as well as in Vena- 

 bles' " Guide to the Isle of Wight." 



In botany, the best discovery made during this year 

 was that of Bartsia viscosa (Marsh eye-bright), new to the 

 Isle of Wight. 



