42 
THE OSPREY : 
beautiful sight it is. The long-winged bird hovers (as a 
kestrel does over a mouse), at a considerable distance 
above the water, sometimes on perfectly motionless wing, 
and sometimes, wheeling slowly in circles, turning his head 
and looking eagerly down at the water. He sees a trout 
when at a great height, and suddenly closing his wings, 
drops like a shot bird into the water, often plunging com¬ 
pletely under, and at other times appearing scarcely to 
touch the water, but seldom failing to rise again with a 
good-sized fish in his talons. Sometimes, in the midst of 
his swoop, the osprey stops himself suddenly in the most 
abrupt manner, probably because the fish, having changed 
its position, is no longer within range. He then hovers, 
again stationary, in the air, anxiously looking below for 
the re-appearance of the prey. Having well examined 
one pool, he suddenly turns off, and with rapid flight 
takes himself to an adjoining part of the stream, where 
he again begins to hover and circle in the air. On 
making a pounce into the water, the osprey dashes up 
the spray far and wide, so as to be seen for a consider¬ 
able distance.” 
After this description, it is easy to understand the allu¬ 
sion of Aufidius, who says :— 
“ I think he’ll be to Rome, 
As is the osprey to the fish, who takes it 
By sovereignty of nature.” 
Coriolanus , Act iv. Sc. 7. 
