36 THE OS PREY. 



parrots and urns 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 ('laws 

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

 victim to place itself in security if it were only aide 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 tops 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 around 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 (Thrascetus harpy ia) is found in Texas occasionally, and is, therefore, 

 enumerated in the list of North American birds. 



Tiieiie 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 largestof 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 (daws are very sharply pointed. The color of the legs 

 and cere is yellow, and the tarsus is marked in front with a, series of shield-like scales. When 

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

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

 it feeds upon the aquatic reptiles which are found so plentifully in such localities, and also 

 upon the smaller mammalia 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 been driven by 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 purpose. The nest is a very large one, composed almost wholly of sticks, and 

 contains two or three whitish eggs, largely blotched with reddish brown, 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 affectionate and 

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

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



Wilson, in his well-known work on the birds of America, gives a very interesting account 

 of the proceedings of a pair of Ospreys. 'Hie 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 supplied 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 wholly on fish, the Osprey sails in wide undulating circles, hovering 



