37 
what had attracted its attention. After a 
pause of some time, it descended towards the 
surface of the water, and there continued 
hovering for another short interval, and pre- 
cipitated itself with such violence as to be 
nearly immersed. In three or four seconds 
the bird rose without any apparent difficulty, 
and carried off a trout of moderate size : and 
instead of alighting to regale upon its prey, 
it soared to a prodigious height, and did not 
descend within view. 
Bingley, in his Animal Biography, in- 
forms us, that this bird often affords amuse- 
ment to strangers on the larger rivers of 
America. During the spring and summer 
months, the Osprey is frequently seen hover- 
ing over the rivers, or resting on the wing, 
for several minutes at a time, without the 
least visible change of place. It then sud- 
denly darts down, and plunges into the 
water; from whence it seldom rises again 
without some fish in its talons. When it 
does rise into the air, it immediately shakes 
off the water, which it throws around like a 
mist, and pursues its way towards the woods. 
The Bald Eagle (Falco Leucocephalus, of 
