OSPREY. 
185 
accounts we have received from persons living in 
the vicinity of their haunts, we have occasion to 
think that it sometimes feeds in the air, or, at 
least, soars to a considerable height, and sports 
with its victim before coming to its resting-place. 
Water-fowl or game, or the small animals, seem 
very seldom attacked. It is a true fishing Eagle, 
and with a well-appointed apparatus ; there are 
instances on record where other prey is resorted 
to, but we believe such to be caused by neces- 
sity, and where the want of usual subsistence 
could not be overcome. 
The Osprey seems to be frequent in some 
other countries of Europe, particularly Norway, 
and is otherwise widely distributed. It is very 
common in North America, and is known under 
the name of “Fish Hawk.”* We possess speci- 
mens from New Holland, and Temminck records 
it from Japan and the Cape of Good Hope.f 
The intensity in the colouring of the plumage 
of the Osprey varies in two specimens before 
us. The upper parts in the one are very light, 
and a great proportion of white is seen in the 
head. In some, again, we have seen the pectoral 
band complete ; in others, it was scarcely marked, 
except by a few spots or streaks. The former 
* See Wilson’s North American Ornithology, where 
the history will be read with interest. 
t Temm. Man. Supp. p. 16. 
