1 
OSPREY. 
the nest, that I could not reach within a foot of the eggs without scrambling on to 
many instances the nest is heaped up to a height of three or even four feet, 
the upper part. In all eases the foundation consists of good-sized sticks, finer materials being used complete 
‘’"Z KsWnv-Eagle (or rather Water-Eagle, as I have heard this species termed in the north) ought 
apparently to prove an uglv customer to all aggressors and thoroughly able to protect its own. O c 
whcn examinin'* a nest I discovered the female sitting on a single egg, with the shell of another, which 
I!; but recently broken and sucked, laying beside her. In this ease both male and female were a£e an 
could never have suffered from any intrusion of visitors, as, besides being close to a keeper s lod 0 e, e og 
were evidently quite fresh laid. It is difficult to understand how the Crow (and this robher was without 
doubt the culprit, as I saw two pair within half a mile of the spot) had managed to gc a c ance 0 approac 
th ° T never remember having seen it stated that this species was nocturnal in its habits ; but on more than 
one occasion, when in the neighbourhood of their nests, I have heard the old birds calling loudly during the 
night. Owing to the darkness it was impossible to tell whether they were on wing or perched, although I 
have stopped and waited some time in order to make sure. 
Unless molested the Osprey is always a most unsuspicious bird. I have seen one alight on a beacon 
(marking the course of the Norwich river across Breydon mud flats) and allow two or three wherries to sail 
past within fifteen or twenty yards without paying the slightest attention. These beacons (large flat-headed 
stakes, a foot or more in diameter) appear to he favourite resting-places for this species, both in the tideways 
and in the freshwater broads. I have also observed one pitched on a small pole, driven into a mud-bank 
to hold a net, that was no larger at the top than a good-sized walking-stick. Here the bird remained 
apparently at its ease, though how it managed to retain its position was by no means clear. This specimen 
was particularly confiding, turning its head and watching all our motions while I closely examined it with the 
glasses from a punt at the distance of little more than half a gunshot. At a Highland lodge I have 
frequently visited it is no uncommon sight to notice one sitting on the boat-sheds close in front of the 
buildings. The female, like many other birds of prey, is by no means easily scared from lier nest. While 
passing near an eyrie one spring, and being uncertain whether it was occupied that season, we left tlie track 
and proceeded a short distance into the forest in order to examine it. After walking round the tree and 
noticing that the nest (which was not above fifteen or, at most, eighteen feet from the ground) did not appear 
to have received any fresh additions, we came to the conclusion that the birds had chosen some other spot. 
One of the keepers at last happened to strike the tree with his stick, and I then noticed the white head of 
the female rise up a short distance, but immediately drop out of sight again. The large size of the nest had 
entirely hidden the sitting bird ; and it was only when she sprung up for a moment that we became aware 
of her presence. Pour or five of us walking about and talking loudly within a few yards of where she sat 
had not caused her to move. 
The young birds of this species appear to he quite fearless, and exhibit not the slightest shyness, eagerly 
attempting to take food from their captors almost as soon as they have been removed from the nest. I have 
never taken hut one pair that I required as specimens, although I might possibly have endeavoured to 
rear one or two in confinement, had it not been, from some cause or other (most probably on account of 
their fisli-diet), that they proved so abominably offensive to the nasal organs that the occupation of feeding or 
even visiting them could hardly have been agreeable. 
