OSPKEY. 



Ospreys are very rare in Scotland now. I know of only one 

 other place where they build, but, for the safety of the birds, I 

 will not mention it. This rare bird must have been better 

 known in England in Queen Elizabeth's time than it is now, as 

 Shakespeare mentions it in the play when Coriolanus is besieging 

 Home. Tullus Aufidius says of him 



" I think he'll be to Home, 

 As is the osprey to the fish, 

 Who takes it by sovereignty of nature." 



Now, it is not likely that a play-writer would seek to make his 

 meaning clearer to his audience by using for a simile a rare bird 

 which they had never seen or heard tell of. Shakespeare gene- 

 rally uses for illustration the very commonest and best known 

 birds most of all the Crow. The Osprey is so scarce now as 

 to be unknown to many people. 



