82 
BIRDS OF PREY. 
Though social, they are sometimes seen to combat in 
the air, instigated probably more by jealousy than a love 
for rapine, as their food is always obtained from an un- 
failing source. 
The ancients, particularly Aristotle, pretended that 
the Ospreys taught their young to gaze at the sun, and 
that those who were unable to do so were destroyed. 
Linnaeus even believed, on ancient authority, that one 
of the feet of this bird had all the toes divided while the 
other was partly webbed, so that it could swim with one 
foot, and grasp a fish in the other. Aristotle likewise 
remarked, that the young of the White-tailed Eagle were 
driven from the nest before they could feed themselves, 
and that they would perish but for the aid and education 
which they received from the Osprey.* This opinion 
arose, no doubt, from the fact, that that species, no less 
than the Bald Eagle, is in the habit of plundering the 
Fish-Hawk for its sustenance. 
The Fish-Hawk, according to the convenience of the 
site where it takes up its abode, forms its nest upon rocks, 
more rarely upon the ground among reeds, or amidst ruin- 
ed and deserted buildings, or on trees ; the last situa- 
tion, however, appears to be universally preferred in the 
United States. It is commonly situated at a considera- 
ble elevation, and, like the eyry of the Eagle, continues 
to be occupied as long as the tree exists. The materi- 
als, however, of which the nest is composed are often of 
such a nature, and in such quantity, as to hasten the de- 
cay of its support. The following, according to Wilson, 
is the ordinary composition of this rude but substantial 
fabric. The external floor is made of large sticks, 
from | an inch to 1-^ inches in diameter, and 2 or 3 
* Buffon considers the bird here alluded to as the Seei Eagle, which is, however, 
only the young of the White-tailed species. 
