36 
THE OSPREY. 
parrots and aras are slain and eaten by the Crested Eagle. As soon as the Harpy Eagle pounces 
upon a sloth, a fawn, or an opossum, the fate of its victim is sealed, for the long curved claws 
are driven so forcibly into its vitals, that it speedily sinks dead beneath the fatal grasp. 
From the thickly wooded nature of the localities in which this Eagle dwells, a lengthened 
chase would be impossible, as the dense foliage and tangled boughs would enable the intended 
victim to place itself in security if it were only able to receive intimation of its pursuer’s 
presence. The great object of the Harpy Eagle is, therefore, to steal quietly upon its prey, by 
gliding on noiseless wing over the tops of the trees, and to swoop suddenly and unexpectedly 
on the unfortunate sloth or fawn that it may chance to discover. When successful in its chase, 
and standing exultingly on the body of its quarry, its talons firmly holding the prey which it 
has gained by its own quickness and strength, and its fierce eyes looking jealously around lest 
any intruder should endeavor to despoil it of the fruits of its victory, the Harpy Eagle 
presents a truly magnificent sight. Its crest is raised and continually in motion, and its eyes 
seem to flame with mingled fury and triumph. 
The Harpy Eagle ( Thrascetus harpy id) is found in Texas occasionally, and is, therefore, 
enumerated in the list of North American birds. 
These is rather a curious bird found in Brazil, Cayenne, and various parts of the West 
Indies, named the Brazilian Eagle or Urubitinga. 
This bird is a great contrast in dimensions to that which has just been mentioned, being only 
about the size of an ordinary raven, whereas the harpy Eagle is among the largest of the diurnal 
birds of prey. The color of the Urubitinga is nearly black, diversified with some grayish 
marks upon the wings, and the white tail -coverts and base of the tail. The beak is powerfully 
made, and very convex above, and the claws are very sharply pointed. The color of the legs 
and cere is yellow, and the tarsus is marked in front with a series of shield-like scales. When 
young, the plumage of the Urubitinga is very different from that of the adult bird, being largely 
mixed with yellow and dark brown. It is always to be found near rivers, lakes and swamps, as 
it feeds upon the aquatic reptiles which are found so plentifully in such localities, and also 
upon the smaller mammalia which also inhabit wet and marshy situations. 
One of the most interesting of predaceous birds is the celebrated Osprey, or Fishing 
Hawk. 
As the bird is a fish-eater, it is generally observed on the sea-coast or on the banks of 
some large river, but has occasionally been observed in some, comparatively waterless situation, 
where it has probably been driven by stress of weather. The Osprey breeds year after year on 
the same spot, generally choosing the summit of an old ruined building or the top of a large 
tree for that purpose. The nest is a very large one, composed almost wholly of sticks, and 
contains two or three whitish eggs, largely blotched with reddish brown, the dark patches 
being collected towards the large end of the egg. As is the case with the Eagles, the Osprey 
is monogamous ; but on the death of either of the pair, the survivor soon finds another mate, 
and is straightway consoled by a new alliance. From all accounts it is an affectionate and 
domestic bird, paying the greatest attention to its mate and home, and displaying a constancy 
which is not to be surpassed by that of the turtle-dove, so celebrated for matrimonial felicity. 
Wilson, in his well-known work on the birds of America, gives a very interesting account 
of the proceedings of a pair of Ospreys. The female had unfortunately lost one of her legs, 
and was in consequence disabled from catching fish. Her mate, however, redoubled his efforts 
on her behalf, and, leaving her in the nest, used to set himself to work with such perseverance 
that he kept the nest well supplied with food by his sole endeavors, so that his mate never 
was obliged to leave her charge in search of sustenance. Even after the young had been 
fledged, this model husband continued his efforts, and relieved his wife of the necessity for 
hunting. 
The flight of the Osprey is peculiarly easy and elegant, as might be expected from a bird 
the length of whose body is only twenty-two inches, and the expanse of wing nearly five feet 
and a half. Living almost wholly on fish, the Osprey sails in wide undulating circles, hovering 
