THE EAGLES 95 



and fierce on a dead horse, gorging himself on the carrion, 

 and not permitting a waiting group of vultures to draw 

 nearer till he had eaten his fill. Another was seen keeping 

 to himself a heap of grey squirrels drowned by a flood and 

 washed up on the banks : he would allow no other hungry 

 bird or beast to share the food. 



But of all the shabby tricks played by this Eagle, the 

 worst is that which, being no great fisherman himself, he 

 plays on that superb fish-catcher, the OSPREY. 



The Osprey is half eagle, half hawk. It is, indeed, often 

 called the Fish-Hawk. But it will be more convenient to 

 speak of it in this chapter, especially as it is so closely 

 associated (to its own great misfortune) with the Sea 

 Eagles about which we have been talking. 



It is not only the American Osprey that is so perse- 

 cuted : in Europe it is just the same. " Sea Eagles and 

 Kites are the most malicious tormentors of the poor 

 Osprey," says one Continental writer, "for they worry it 

 incessantly . . . and also rob it of its cleverly gained 

 booty." It is a peaceable creature, and the more warlike 

 birds of prey are no doubt encouraged to take advantage 

 of its fishing expertness by knowing that their attacks 

 will only be met with a few hoarse screams. Think of 

 what would happen if any one of them tried to rob a 

 Sea Eagle of his prey ! 



Yet any attempt by a human robber to meddle with 

 an Osprey's nest is apt to have serious consequences. 

 And it is even said by one observer, Webber, that where 

 many Ospreys live near together, as in some places on the 

 Gulf of Mexico, they will combine and beat oft' the attack 

 of the fierce White-headed Eagle. "There was always a 

 desperate battle first," he says, " before the savage monarch 

 could be routed. I have seen them gathered about him 



