CH. III. ospkey's eggs. 31 



that he was carrying a fish in his claws. On ap- 

 proaching he redoubled his cries, probably expect- 

 ing the well-known answer, or signal of gratitude, 

 from his mate ; but not hearing her, he flew on 

 till he came immediately over the nest. I could 

 plainly see him turning his head to the right and 

 left, as if looking for her, and as if in astonish- 

 ment at her unwonted absence. He came lower 

 and lower still, holding the fish in his feet, which 

 were stretched out at full length from his body. 

 Not seeing her, he again ascended and flew to the 

 other end of the lake, the rocks echoing his shrill 

 cry. The poor bird, after making one or two cir- 

 cuits of the lake, then flew away far out of sight, 

 still keeping possession of the fish. He probably 

 went to look for the female at some known and 

 frequented haunt, as he flew rapidly off" in a direct 

 line. He soon, however, came over the lake again, 

 and continued his flight to and fro and his loud 

 cries for above an hour, still keeping the fish ready 

 for his mate. I at length heard the voices of my 

 friends, and we soon launched the boat. The 

 osprey became much agitated as we neared the rock 

 where the nest was, and dropped the fish he held 

 into the water. We found two beautiful eggs in 

 the nest, of a roundish shape ; the colour white, 

 with numerous spots and marks of a fine rich red 



