26 FALCONID^E. 



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 Dr. Eichardson, " it sails with great ease and ele- 

 gance, in undulating and curved lines, at a considerable 

 altitude above the water, from whence it precipitates 

 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." 



