148 WINGED ROBBERS AND NEST-BUILDERS. 



American osprey. He has a proud, stately bear- 

 ing as he prowls far above the waves in airy circles, 

 and sails with easy sweep of his powerful wings 

 against the wind, ready to fall on some surface- 

 loving fish. A distant view of one, seen through 

 a glass, has the appearance of a large horizontal 

 bracket against the gray clouds. 



I have often thought this bird loved the sport of 

 fishing. He never appears to be in a hurry or 

 impatient, but plies his trade in quiet contempla- 

 tion. The complete angler is he who knows his 

 favorite species, and the best wind and weather in 

 which they can be caught. At times he makes a 

 sudden plunge down through the air, but on com- 

 ing near the surface of the water rises up again 

 and resumes his sailing, as if he delighted to 

 see his game scamper away from his sharp hooks. 

 When he has caught a fish to his taste he imme- 

 diately proceeds to the shore, flying slowly and 

 laboriously along, like some large heavily-laden 

 craft, with his quarry held lengthwise or parallel 

 to his body, so that it may present the least resist- 

 ance to the air, and no more impediment to flight 

 than is necessary. 



Who, by studying the philosophy of sailing, has 

 had the problem fuUy explained? It is a note- 



