OSPREY. 31 



THE genus Pandion was instituted for the Osprey by 

 M. Savigny, and some other species have since been added 

 to this genus by other naturalists. 



This bird, from its habit of feeding almost exclusively 

 on fish, must be looked for near the sea-shore, or about 

 rivers and large lakes which may be expected to afford a 

 plentiful supply of the particular food it is known most 

 to delight in. The manner in which the Osprey seeks 

 its prey, and its mode of obtaining it, are admirably 

 described by the Ornithologists of America, in which 

 country this bird is sufficiently numerous to afford ex- 

 cellent opportunities of observing its actions. On one 

 island near the eastern extremity of Long Island, New 

 York, three hundred nests were counted. The old birds 

 were rearing their young close together, living as peaceably 

 as so many Rooks, and were equally harmless in reference 

 to other smaller birds. " When looking out for its 

 prey," says Sir John Richardson, "it sails with great ease 

 and elegance, in undulating and curved lines, at a consi- 

 derable altitude above the water, from whence it precipi- 

 tates itself upon its quarry and bears it off in its claws ; 

 or it not unfrequently, on the fish moving to too great a 

 depth, stops suddenly in its descent, and hovers for a 

 few seconds in the air, like a Kite or a Kestril, suspending 

 itself in the same spot by a quick flapping of its wings ; 

 it then makes a second and, in general, unerring dart 

 upon its prey, or regains the former altitude by an 

 elegant spiral flight. It seizes the fish with its claws, 

 sometimes scarcely appearing to dip its feet in the water, 

 and at other times 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," 



