OSPREY. 33 



possession of powers to provide for themselves, and have 

 been seen to supply them with fish long after they had 

 left the nest, and both were flying about on the wing 

 together. The old birds rear but one brood in the year. 



Specimens of this bird have been obtained in Surrey, 

 Sussex, and almost every county on our north-east coast : 

 at Hartlepool, Mr. Selby states that one was frequently 

 observed perched on the hull of a vessel that had been 

 wrecked. Two or three specimens have been killed in 

 Durham ; and they are said to be observed on the north- 

 west coast of Scotland rather more frequently than else- 

 where. Sir William Jardine, in his notes to his edition 

 of Wilson's Birds of America, says, that in Scotland " a 

 pair or two may be found about most of the Highland 

 lochs, where they fish, and, during the breeding season, 

 build on the ruined towers so common on the edges or 

 insulated rocks of these wild waters. The nest is an 

 immense fabric of rotten sticks 



' Itself a burden for the tallest tree/ 



and is generally placed, if such exists, on the top of the 

 chimney ; and, if this be wanting, on the highest summit 

 of the building. An aged tree may sometimes be chosen ; 

 but ruins are always preferred, if near. They have the 

 same propensity of returning to an old station with those 

 of America : and if one is shot, a mate is soon found, and 

 brought to the ancient abode. Loch Lomond, Loch 

 Awe, and Killchurn Castle, and Loch Menteith, have long 

 been breeding-places." 



On our southern coast, a specimen was shot in August, 

 1836, in Christchurch Bay, where this bird is called the 

 Mullet Hawk, a local name for the knowledge of 

 which I am indebted to the kindness of the Earl of 

 Malmesbury, and the figure of the bird here given is 



VOL. I. D 



