THE OSPREY. 
35 
THE OSPREY, OR FISHING HAWK. 
(FalcOj or Pandion Halisetus .) 
True to the season, o’er our sea-beat shore, 
The sailing Osprey high is seen to soar 
With broad unmoving wing ; and circling slow, 
Marks each loose straggler in the deep below ; 
Sweeps down like lightning, plunges with a roar, 
And bears his struggling victim to the shore. 
This bird is always found on the sea-shore, or near 
rivers or lakes, as it feeds entirely on fish. It is common 
in Great Britain, and also in America, where large colonies 
are found of it, the birds living together like rooks. “ When 
looking out for its prey,” says Hr. Richardson, “it sails 
with great care and elegance, in undulating and curved 
lines” at a considerable height above the water, till it per- 
ceives its prey, when it pounces down upon it. It seizes 
the fish with its claws, sometimes scarcely appearing to dip 
its feet in the water, and at other times plunging entirely 
under the surface with force sufficient to throw up a con- 
siderable spray. It emerges again, however, so speedily, as 
to render it evident that it does not attack fish swimming 
at any great depth.” 
The Osprey builds a large nest either on trees or rocks, 
and lays two or three eggs, which have a reddish tinge, and 
are spotted with brown at the larger end. The old birds 
feed the young ones even after they have left the nest, and 
only rear one brood in the year. 
