64 Fakonidce. 



2. THE OSPREY (Pandion haliwetus). 



This fine species generally lives altogether on fish, and to seize 

 its slippery prey with its powerful talons it hesitates not to plunge 

 into rivers and lakes, on the borders of which it may therefore be 

 looked for. I have described its remarkable conformation of foot, so 

 exactly fitted to this purpose, on a previous page. So its plumage, 

 too, and especially on the under parts of the body, is not composed 

 of long feathers, such as we generally see in the other members 

 of this family, but is close and firm, like that of the waterfowl 

 Hovering over the waters, with an undulatory motion of wing, no 

 sooner has its eagle-glance discovered a fish near the surface, 

 than down it dashes with the velocity of an arrow, and bearing its 

 quivering and slippery but firmly-clutched victim away in its feet, 

 retires to some secluded rock, where, unmolested, it can devour it 

 at leisure. So deep are its talons embedded in the fish, that it 

 seldom cares to relax its hold till the fish is almost consumed, 

 picking out the flesh from between its toes with great dexterity. 

 Frequently, however, the poor Osprey is not suffered to enjoy its 

 hardly-earned prize in peace, for the last-named species, the 

 White- tailed Eagle, not fitted itself for plunging into the sea, but 

 liking to vary its diet of flesh and fowl with an occasional fish, 

 sits on some rock or bough, a patient but interested spectator of 

 the sport, watching the Osprey's manoeuvres, and eager for its 

 success; then, no sooner has it made a successful pounce, and 

 risen from the waters rejoicing in its prey, than down comes the 

 Eagle in pursuit, and gives instant chase. Its superior strength 

 and speed usually bring success, and though the poor ' fish-hawk ' 

 will not surrender its booty without an effort, but rises in circles 

 higher and higher, yet, encumbered with its burden, it is no match 

 for its assailant, and is at last compelled to drop the fish, which 

 the Erne, with astonishing quickness, manages to seize before it 

 falls into the water, and bears off with a scream of victory and 

 triumph. 'Possibly' says Montagu ' the Osprey was formerly 

 trained for hawking of fish, as we find by an Act passed in the 

 reign of William and Mary persons were prohibited at a certain 



