. Handbook of birds of the western United States including the great plains, great basin, Pacific slope, and lower Rio Grande valley . e surface of the water or perchingnear the shore on the top of some olddead tree overlooking the ripplingsurface. When a fish is sighted beloW the long wings are foldedand with a meteor-like plunge the bird sinks into the water, imbed-ding the long hooked talons in the back of the fish. With a fewpowerful strokes of the wings it is np again, carrying the fish withtalons planted one ahead of the other in its back, to make it go headfirst instead of side wise, so
. Handbook of birds of the western United States including the great plains, great basin, Pacific slope, and lower Rio Grande valley . e surface of the water or perchingnear the shore on the top of some olddead tree overlooking the ripplingsurface. When a fish is sighted beloW the long wings are foldedand with a meteor-like plunge the bird sinks into the water, imbed-ding the long hooked talons in the back of the fish. With a fewpowerful strokes of the wings it is np again, carrying the fish withtalons planted one ahead of the other in its back, to make it go headfirst instead of side wise, so that it will cut the air. With its preythe osprey makes for its nest, or if it has no nest flies to a branchwhere it can devour its quarry at leisure. Every spring the fish hawks add a new layer to the old nest, andif undisturbed will use the same structure as long as the sticks holdtogether. The nests are generally scattered and by no means com-mon, but in places where suckers and other fish are abundant andeasily caught, the ospreys sometimes live in large colonies, comingback year after year to the same nests. Vernon (iL;ical Survoy, U. S. Aj^riculture. Fig. 238. Fish Hawk. FAMILY STRIGIDiE BARN OWLS. GENUS Strix pratineola Bonajj. Barn Owl. Wings long, pointed, folding beyond tail; tail short, about half as longas wing ; tarsus nearly twice as long as middle toe __ without claw, closely feathered above, slightly feath-ered and bristly below, as on toes ; feathers of back oftarsus pointing upward; inner toe as long as middle f/T fi^ ^ itoe ; inner edge of middle claw pectinated. Facial disk pure white to, tawny; under parts pure Iig* 239.
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