80 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



see them. As soon as they found out that I did not attempt to get the 

 fish out of the nest as they had expected, Mr. Osprey came along with 

 the fish, and, after circling around a few times, left the fish for his 

 hungry children to eat. He then flew away triumphantly to tell his 

 mate how they had deceived me. 



I know of no birds that are trained as well as the young Ospreys. 

 They did not utter a sound during the several hours that I watched 

 them, nor did they show their heads above the top of the nest. What 

 would a nest full of hungry Robins do if left for over an hour without 

 food. Any passer by would hear the screaming and easily find the young 

 robin's nest. The Ospreys must train their young to keep perfectly 

 quiet and not make a sound, even if they are starving, while the dan- 

 ger call is heard. If all young birds were as obedient as the Osprey's 

 how much better it would be for the parents. 



I secured my best photographs this day beside learning the most 

 about their habits. The day before they were much afraid of me, but 

 today, after quietly watching them for over an hour, they found I was 

 their friend, and went to and from their nest without minding me. I left 

 them quiet and happy with the mother on the nest. It takes patience 

 to prove to any bird that you will not harm it, but after it once finds 

 you to be its friend, it is no longer afraid of you; then is the time to 

 study and photograph your bird and get the best result. Patience is 

 the one great thing necessary in studying birds. 



On my last visit to the nest, I found the Ospreys in their usual position, 

 Mrs. Osprey on the nest, and Mr. Osprey on the tree close by. I took 

 several photographs of them this time. As I approached they were 

 quieter than usual and seemed hardly to mind me. I found nearly a 

 half dozen trees, all of which were dead at the top, thus affording 

 perches for the Ospreys. I saw them use all of these. Thus the mis- 

 tery was solved and I found out where the birds stayed when guarding 

 the nest. The next day I was obliged to leave Pemaquid, but a week 

 later a friend wrote me that the two young Ospreys were flying around 

 with their parents, and that they were so large it was hard to tell them 

 apart. 



I shall always remember my pleasant experiences with these Ospreys, 



and if I ever am so fortunate as to go and visit Pemaquid again, I shall 



expect to see these or some other Ospreys occupying the same nest, 



for the nest is repaired and used by the owners every year until death, 



and then occupied by their dcscendents for many years. 



By Samukl Dowse Robbins. 



