BIRD-LIFE IN POMERANIA. 408 
soars the Osprey (F'ischadler), the enemy of all fresh-water fish ; 
ever higher and higher he rises, the white feathers of the under 
parts shining brightly in the clear sunlight. Now he darts 
forward like a Gull, suddenly turns over, and then descends with 
quieter flight. Poised for a minute above the water he spies his 
prey below him, and, swift as an arrow, drops into the water, 
which almost closes over him; then, shaking the spray from his 
feathers, he rises with a struggling fish in his feet, and flies off 
with it. The eyrie is as remarkable as the owner of it. Whilst 
other birds take pains to conceal their nests amongst thick 
branches and foliage, the Osprey makes his home in the most 
exposed situation he can find, choosing the most lofty, and, if 
possible, the dryest point, of the highest tree in the neighbour- 
hood; so that the eyrie, overlooking all, is visible from afar. 
The dry twigs and branches, of which the nest (from three to 
five feet high) is built, are bound closely together with mud and 
earth. 
A sharp cry now announces that another Eagle is soaring 
above us, the shy Spotted Eagle, Aquila nevia (Schreiadler), 
who circles round and round while keeping a sharp look-out below 
for food. Suddenly every bird becomes silent, and slips away 
into the bushes, or crouches on the ground, as a Peregrine 
Falcon (Wanderfalke) dashes by—the terror of all birds from 
Duck and Plover to the smallest of the feathered tribe. 
A timid Buzzard, which, through hunger, has been trying to 
catch mice in the field, hastens back, with heavy wings, to the 
forest, pursued by importunate Crows (Kraéhen), and, screaming, 
seeks shelter among the trees. 
Our way leads us past the eyrie of another feathered robber. 
By knocking hard on the tree, we disturb a brooding Goshawk 
(Hiihnerhabichte), whose mate is paying a visit to a neighbouring 
farmyard in search of his daily tribute of hens and pigeons. 
With the greatest dexterity and courage he pursues his prey, and 
seldom misses his stoop; in his blind haste he even follows his 
victim into houses. I once saw a Goshawk thus entrap himself 
in a pigeon-house while in pursuit of a pigeon. The female of 
this species, like that of all other birds of prey, surpasses the 
male in size and strength, as well as in cruelty and recklessness ; 
cases have been known of a female Goshawk killing her mate 
and young ones. 
