. The American natural history; a foundation of useful knowledge of the higher animals of North America. Natural history. iC OEDEES OF BIEDS—BIEDS OF PEEY flying five miles with it, must appeal to every man and boy who loves the grasp of a good rod, and the musical click of a reel. The boat trip up the Shrewsbury Ri\-er, from New York to Long Branch, is worth taking in midsummer solely for the sight of the Osi^reys, winging slowly over the still lagoon, stalking their finny prey, and anon plunging with a loud. AMERICAN OSPREY. splash into the water. Sometimes the bold fishers go fjuite out of
. The American natural history; a foundation of useful knowledge of the higher animals of North America. Natural history. iC OEDEES OF BIEDS—BIEDS OF PEEY flying five miles with it, must appeal to every man and boy who loves the grasp of a good rod, and the musical click of a reel. The boat trip up the Shrewsbury Ri\-er, from New York to Long Branch, is worth taking in midsummer solely for the sight of the Osi^reys, winging slowly over the still lagoon, stalking their finny prey, and anon plunging with a loud. AMERICAN OSPREY. splash into the water. Sometimes the bold fishers go fjuite out of sight. The most sur- ])rising thing about such ])erformanecs is the size of the fish that an Osprey can lift and carry away. In carrying a fish, an Osprey always grasps it on the back, with one talon well ahead of the other, and the head of the fish pointing straight forward. This is to secure a minimum of resist- ance from the air, and render it an easy matter to steer (he prize to the home-ncst, or to a tall tree on which it may be devoin-ed at leisure. It is no wonder that a. tliree-i>ound Osprey carrying a one-pound fish is moved to jettison his cargo when he sees a hostile bald eagle bearing down ufion liirn with empty claws and his decks cleared for action. The story of the Ospreys of Gardiner's Island is a most interesting chapter in bird-life. The owner of that island is a relentless enemy to cats and gunners, and a fierce protector of all the wild life on the island, which is wholly his. His weapons are loaded for hunters only, and for several years the Ospreys have bred regu- larly around Mr. Gardiner's house, and all over the island. A pair of birds occupies the same nest year after year, adding to the mass each year, until the nest contains a wagon-load of sticks of many sizes, and measures six feet in diameter. To-day, strange to relate, some of the Ospreys are nesting practically upon the ground, serenely confident of their securit)' from all harm. The Osprey
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookp, booksubjectnaturalhistory
