36 THE OSPREY. 



parrots and aras are slain and eaten by the Crested Eagle. As soon as the Harpy Eagle pounces 

 upon a sloth, a fawn, or an opossum, the fate of its victim is sealed, for the long curved claws 

 are driven so forcibly into its vitals, that it speedily sinks dead beneath the fatal grasp. 



From the thickly wooded nature of the localities in which this Eagle dwells, a lengthened 

 chase would be impossible, as the dense foliage and tangled boughs would enable the intended 

 victim to i)lace itself in security if it were only able to receive intimation of its pursuer's 

 presence. The great object of the Harpy Eagle is, therefore, to steal quietly upon its prey, by 

 gliding on noiseless wing over the toj^s of the trees, and to swoop suddenly and unexpectedly 

 on the unfortunate sloth or fawn that it may chance to discover. When successful in its chase, 

 and standing exultingly on the body of its quarry, its talons firmly holding the prey which it 

 has gained by its own quickness and strength, and its fierce eyes looking jealously aroiind lest 

 any intruder should endeavor to despoil it of the fruits of its victory, the Harpy Eagle 

 presents a truly magnificent sight. Its crest is raised and continually in motion, and its eyes 

 seem to flame with mingled fury and triumph. 



The Harpy Eagle {Thrascefns 7iarj)>//a) is found in Texas occasionally, and is, therefore, 

 enumerated in the list of North American birds. 



There is rather a curious bird found in Brazil, Cayenne, and various parts of the West 

 Indies, named the Brazilian Eagle or Urubitinga. 



This bird is a great contrast in dimensions to that which has just been mentioned, being only 

 about the size of an ordinary raven, whereas the harpy Eagle is among the largest of the diurnal 

 birds of prey. The color of the Urubitinga is nearly black, diversified with some grayish 

 marks upon the wings, and the white tail-coverts and base of the tail. The beak is powerfully 

 made, and very convex above, and the claws are very sharply pointed. The color of the legs 

 and cere is yeUow, and the tarsus is marked in front \vith a series of sliield-like scales. When 

 young, the plumage of the Urubitinga is very different from that of the adult bird, being largely 

 mixed with yellow and dark brown. It is always to be found near rivers, lakes and swamps, as 

 it feeds upon the aquatic rejitiles which are found so i^lentifully in such localities, and also 

 upon the smaller mannnalia which also inhabit wet and marshy situations. 



One of the most interesting of predaceous birds is the celebrated Osprey, or Fishing 

 Hawk. 



As the bird is a fish-eater, it is generally observed on the sea-coast or on the banks of 

 some large river, but has occasionally been observed in some comparatively waterless situation, 

 where it has probably V)een driven hj stress of weather. The Osprey breeds year after year on 

 the same spot, generally choosing the summit of an old ruined building or the top of a large 

 tree for that purjiose. The nest is a very large one, composed almost wholly of sticks, and 

 contains two or three whitish eggs, largely blotched with reddish browTi, the dark patches 

 being collected towards the large end of the egg. As is the case with the Eagles, the Osprey 

 is monogamous : but on the death of either of the pair, the survivor soon finds another mate, 

 and is straightway consoled by a new alliance. From all accounts it is an afPectionate and 

 domestic bird, jjaying the greatest attention to its mate and home, and displaying a constancy 

 which is not to be surjiassed by that of the turtle-dove, so celebrated for matrimonial felicity. 



AVilson. in his well-known work on the biids of America, gives a very interesting account 

 of the proceedings of a pair of Ospreys. The female had unfortunately lost one of her legs, 

 and was in consequence disabled from catching fish. Her mate, however, redoubled his efforts 

 on her behalf, and, leaving her in the nest, used to set himself to work with such perseverance 

 that he kept the nest well sui:)plied with food by his sole endeavors, so that his mate never 

 was obliged to leave her charge in search of sustenance. Even after the young had been 

 fledged, this model husband continued his efforts, and relieved his wife of the necessity for 

 hunting. 



The flight of the Osprey is peculiarly easy and elegant, as might be expected from a bird 

 the length of whose body is only twenty -two inches, and the expanse of wing nearly five feet 

 and a half. Living almost whoUy on fish, the Osprey sails in wide undulating circles, hovering 



