30 cassell's book of muds. 



When caged these birds soon become very tame, and accustom themselves so easily to our climate, 

 that they may be allowed to fly about in the open air. 



THE OSPREY. 



The Osprey, River Eagle, or Fish Hawk {Pandion Haliaelos), although included in this exten- 

 sive group, may be regarded as forming a connecting link between the Eagles (from which it differs 

 in many essential particulars) and the Kites. In this species the body is comparatively short and 

 powerful, and the head large : the beak rises from immediately beneath the cere, and terminates in a 

 very large hook ; the wings, in which the third quill is the longest, extend beyond the by no means 

 short tail. The legs are very robust, and only covered with feathers above the heel ; the tarsi 

 are unusually strong, and protected by thick, small scales ; the toes, the outermost of which can be 

 turned either backwards or forwards, are short, and armed with short and powerful talons. The 

 jjlumage of the Osprey is peculiarly smooth and compact ; its prevailing colour is yellowish white, 

 marked upon the head and nape with longitudinal blackish brown streaks, the feathers on these 

 parts terminating in sharp points ; the rest of the upper part of the body is brown, each feather being 

 bordered with a lighter shade ; the tail is brown, striped with black. The under portions of the body 

 are white, or yellowish white ; a dark streak passes from the eyes to the middle of the throat, and 

 the breast is adorned either with a collar or shield-shaped patch of brown feathers, which are in some 

 cases distinct, but in others scarcely visible. The eye is bright yellow, the cere and feet lead colour, 

 while the beak and claws are of a brilliant black. 



This bird is found throughout the entire continent of Europe, the greater part of Asia, and 

 upon the rivers of Northern and Western Africa. Many naturalists are of opinion that the American 

 Ospreys should be regarded as the same species, so very slightly do they differ from their European 

 representatives, either in their appearance or manner of life. The Riyer Eagle lives almost exclu- 

 sively upon fish, and passes its life in such places as afford a plentiful supply ; it only visits northern 

 regions during the summer months, remaining throughout the rest of the year in warmer latitudes. 

 During the course of its migrations, every piece of water over which it passes is subjected to close 

 inspection, and even the finny inhabitants of the humblest pond are not safe from this most 

 destructive and voracious marauder. Its eyrie is usually constructed upon a high tree, and formed of 

 moss and twigs ; the eggs, two or three in number, are greyish white, marked with pale yellowish red 

 spots. Owing to the great strength of its wings, this bird is capable of flying to a very considerable 

 distance from its roosting-place, to which, however, it always returns for rest or shelter. As soon as 

 the mist has cleared away from the surface of the water, the business of the day commences, and 

 about noon the Osprey may be seen careering through the air, preparatory to descending by a series 

 of graceful evolutions upon the river or lake, over which it has hitherto sailed at a considerable 

 altitude. At the first indication of a fish being abouj; to rise, the observant bird arrests its progress, 

 hovers for a moment aboye the spot, and then swoops down with great velocity upon its prey. All 

 attempts to elude the fierce destroyer are useless, for even should the Osprey be completely sub- 

 merged during the struggle, it rises again with ease, bearing its prize safely grasped by the back, 

 shakes the water from its wings, and flies away with its victim to a neighbouring tree, or, if too heavy, 

 drags it to the bank there to be devoured. The only exception to this mode of fishing is when the 

 Osprey perceives an eel in the vicinity of the water, this it pounces upon, and transfixes with its 

 " iron talons," and then, after tearing it to pieces, devours some portions of the bodv, entirely 

 rejecting the entrails. Next to the Otter, this Eagle may be considered as the most destructive of all 

 the many enemies to whose attacks well-stocked ponds and rivers are incessantly exposed, and for 

 this reason it is regarded with great hostility by al! cultivators of fish. In North America alone it 



