42 THE OSPREY : 



beautiful sight it is. The long-winged bird hovers (as a 

 kestrel does over a mouse), at a considerable distance 

 above the water, sometimes on perfectly motionless wing, 

 and sometimes, wheeling slowly in circles, turning his head 

 and looking eagerly down at the water. He sees a trout 

 when at a great height, and suddenly closing his wings, 

 drops like a shot bird into the water, often plunging com- 

 pletely under, and at other times appearing scarcely to 

 touch the water, but seldom failing to rise again with a 

 good-sized fish in his talons. Sometimes, in the midst of 

 his swoop, the osprey stops himself suddenly in the most 

 abrupt manner, probably because the fish, having changed 

 its position, is no longer within range. He then hovers, 

 again stationary, in the air, anxiously looking below for 

 the re-appearance of the prey. Having well examined 

 one pool, he suddenly turns off, and with rapid flight 

 takes himself to an adjoining part of the stream, where 

 he again begins to hover and circle in the air. On 

 making a pounce into the water, the osprey dashes up 

 the spray far and wide, so as to be seen for a consider- 

 able distance." 



After this description, it is easy to understand the allu- 

 sion of Aufidius, who says : — 



" I think he'll be to Rome, 

 As is the osprey to the fish, who takes it 

 By sovereignty of nature." 



Coriolanus, Act iv. Sc. 7. 



