qH& PU***, %sy. 
Note on the Bald Eagle and Osprey. — On a number of occasions I 
have had the good luck to see a Bald Eagle rob an Osprey of his hard- 
earned meal; but never, until last summer, had I seen the Osprey retaliate 
in any way whatever. Frequent observations have led me to look upon 
the latter bird as rather peaceable for a bird of prey, and strongly inclined 
to attend strictly to business. 
On the occasion in question I came out on the shore of Lake Andros- 
coggin, a considerable body of water in the Androscoggin River region of 
Maine, just in time to see an interesting combat, involving some very fine 
wing work. The Eagle had just forced the Osprey to drop a fish, but had 
failed to catch it as it fell. The smaller bird then withdrew to a point 
about fifty feet above, and suddenly swooping down, attempted to strike 
the Eagle on the back. Just as it looked certain that the broad back 
must receive the full force of the stroke, up went one great wing, with an 
agility and a skill that would have done credit to a practised boxer, and the 
Osprey was tossed aside with apparently almost no effort. This was 
repeated several times; when the Osprey, evidently discouraged, gave up 
the unequal fight and winged away toward the far side of the lake. Im- 
mediately the Eagle dropped to the water, and picking up the fish made off 
with it. 
Throughout the performance, the difference between the birds in build 
and action was very striking: the Eagle, broad, heavy, apparently slow 
and clumsy — deceptively so, as the event showed ; the Osprey, slender, 
undulating, all agile grace and skill. — Freeman F. Burr, White Plains, 
N - Y. UuJt, J 93 . 
