THE OSPREY 155 



it, was hawking for fish on the river Avon, near Aveton Gifford, in 

 Devonshire : ' At last ', he says, ' its attention was arrested, and 

 like the Kestrel in search of mice, it became stationary, as if examin- 

 ing what had attracted its attention. After a pause of some time, 

 it descended to within about fifty yards of the surface of the water, 

 and there continued hovering for another short interval, and then 

 precipitated itself into the water with such great celerity as to be 

 nearly immersed. In three or four minutes the bird rose without 

 any apparent difficulty, and carried off a trout of moderate size, 

 and instead of alighting to regale upon its prey, soared to a prodigious 

 height, and did not descend within our view.' There can be no 

 reasonable doubt that the bird thus described at such distant 

 intervals of time is the same, and that the Sea Eagle of the ancients 

 is the Osprey of the moderns. Wilson thus eloquently describes 

 its habits under the name of the " Fish Hawk ' : " Elevated on the 

 high dead limb of some gigantic tree, that commands a wide view 

 of the neighbouring shore and ocean, the great White-headed Eagle 

 seems calmly to contemplate the motions of the various feathered 

 tribes that pursue their busy vocations below. High over all these 

 hovers one whose actions instantly arrest all his attention. By his 

 wide curvature of wing, and sudden suspension in air, he knows him 

 to be the Fish Hawk settling over some devoted victim of the deep. 

 His eye kindles at the sight, and balancing himself with half -open 

 wings on the branch, he watches the result. Down, rapid as an arrow 

 from heaven, descends the distant object of his attention, the roar 

 of its wings reaching the ear as it disappears in the deep, making 

 the surges foam around. At this moment the eager looks of the 

 Eagle are all ardour ; and, levelling his neck for flight, he sees the 

 Fish Hawk once more emerge struggling with his prey, and mount- 

 ing in the air with screams of exultation. These are the signals for 

 our hero, who, launching into the air, instantly gives chase, soon 

 gains on the Fish Hawk : each exerts his utmost to mount above 

 the other, displaying in the rencontres the most elegant and sublime 

 aerial evolutions. The unincumbered Eagle rapidly advances, 

 and is just on the point of reaching his opponent, when, with a 

 sudden scream, probably of despair and honest execration, the 

 latter drops his fish ; the Eagle, poising himself for a moment, as 

 if to take a more certain aim, descends like a whirlwind, snatches 

 it in his grasp ere it reaches the water, and bears his ill-gotten booty 

 silently away to the woods.' 



The Osprey has been observed on various parts of the coast of 

 Great Britain and Ireland, especially in autumn, and in the neigh- 

 bourhood of the Scottish Lakes, not merely as a stray visitor, but 

 making itself entirely at home. It is known in Sussex and Hamp- 

 shire, as the Mullet Hawk, because of its liking for that fish. It 

 may be considered as a citizen of the world, for it has been found 

 in various parts of Europe, the Cape of Good Hope, India, and 



