the ospreys, as already stated, feed exclusively on fish. they are not known to prey upon birds or quadrupeds of any kind, even when deprived of their customary food, as they sometimes are for days, on account of the lakes and rivers, in which they expected to find it, being frozen over to a later season than usual. other birds, as the purple grakles, often build among the sticks of the osprey’s nest, and rear their young without being meddled with by this generous bird. this is an important point of difference between the osprey and other kinds of hawks; and there is a peculiarity of structure about the feet and legs of the osprey, that points to the nature of his food and his mode of procuring it. his legs are disproportionately long and strong. they are without feathers nearly to the knees. the feet and toes are also very long, and the soles are covered with thick, hard scales, like the teeth of a rasp, which enable the bird to hold securely his slippery prey. the claws, too, are long, and curved into semicircles, with points upon them almost as sharp as needles.

i have stated that an incident occurred to our party that illustrated some of the habits of this interesting bird. it was upon the afternoon of a saturday, after they had fixed their camp to remain for the following day. they had landed upon a point or promontory that ran out into the river, and from which they commanded a view of a fine stretch of water. near where they had placed their tent was the nest of an osprey, in the forks of a large poplar. the tree, as usual, was dead, and the young were plainly visible over the edge of the nest. they appeared to be full-grown and feathered; but it is a peculiarity of the young ospreys that they will remain in the nest, and be fed by the parent birds, until long after they might be considered able to shift for themselves. it is even asserted that the latter become impatient at length, and drive the young ones out of the nest by beating them with their wings; but that for a considerable time afterwards they continue to feed them—most likely until the young birds learn to capture their finny prey for themselves.

this lucien gave as a popular statement, but did not vouch for its truth. it was not long, however, before both he and his companions witnessed its complete verification.

the old birds, after the arrival of the voyageurs upon the promontory, had remained for some time around the nest, and at intervals had shot down to where the party was, uttering loud screams, and making the air whizz with the strokes of their wings. seeing that there was no intention of disturbing them, they at length desisted from these demonstrations, and sat for a good while quietly upon the edge of their nest. then first one, and shortly after the other, flew out, and commenced sailing in circles, at the height of an hundred feet or so above the water. nothing could be more graceful than their flight. now they would poise themselves a moment in the air, then turn their bodies as if on a pivot, and glide off in another direction. all these motions were carried on with the most perfect ease, and as if without the slightest aid from the wings. again they would come to a pause, holding themselves fixed in mid-air by a gentle flapping, and appearing to scrutinise some object below. perhaps it was a fish; but it was either too large a one, or not the species most relished, or maybe it had sunk to too great a depth to be easily taken. again they sail around; one of them suddenly arrests its flight, and, like a stone projected from a sling, shoots down to the water. before reaching the surface, however, the fish, whose quick eye has detected the coming enemy, has gone to the dark bottom, and concealed himself; and the osprey, suddenly checking himself by his wings and the spread of his full tail, mounts again, and re-commences his curvilinear flight.

after this had gone on for some time, one of the birds—the larger one, and therefore the female—was seen to leave off hunting, and return to the nest. there she sat only for a few seconds, when, to the astonishment of the boys, she began to strike her wings against the young ones, as if she was endeavouring to force them from the nest. this was just what she designed doing. perhaps her late unsuccessful attempt to get them a fish had led her to a train of reflections, and sharpened her determination to make them shift for themselves. however that may be, in a few moments she succeeded in driving them up to the edge, and then, by half pushing, and half beating them with her wings, one after the other—two of them there were—was seen to take wing, and soar away out over the lake.

at this moment, the male shot down upon the water, and then rose again into the air, bearing a fish, head-foremost, in his talons. he flew directly towards one of the young, and meeting it as it hovered in the air, turned suddenly over, and held out the fish to it. the latter clutched it with as much ease as if it had been accustomed to the thing for years, and then turning away, carried the fish to a neighbouring tree, and commenced devouring it. the action had been perceived by the other youngster, who followed after, and alighted upon the same branch, with the intention of sharing in the meal. in a few minutes, the best part of the fish was eaten up, and both, rising from the branch, flew back to their nest. there they were met by the parents, and welcomed with a loud squeaking, that was intended, no doubt, to congratulate them upon the success of their first “fly.”