MAY 123 



valour of the plunge, or the dexterity of grip upon so 

 slippery a victim. It is a case of hit or miss, for the 

 osprey cannot pursue a fish under water as a cormorant 

 does. 



The month of March probably seldom passes without 

 bringing a few ospreys, singly or paired, to the British 

 Isles, and these would certainly reoccupy the ancestral 

 quarters if they were but let alone. There should be 

 no difficulty in recognising the bird, even when it is 

 not fishing, for it is distinguished from all others of 

 the hawk family by its white breast and head, which 

 are in strong contrast to the very dark plumage of back, 

 wings and tail. 



