0 S P 1 1 E Y .
PJNDION IIALIAEWS.
I s England, during spring and autumn, the Osprey may generally be observed in certain localities in the
southern and eastern counties. The western dii ision of Susses and the east of Norfolk appear to have particular
attractions for these birds. At different times I have seen three or four in the neighbourhood of > ' ; . ; • • .,
in addition to several others reported by loeal gunners; while iu the broad-district near Yarmouth I occasionally
have noticed as many as half a dozen in the course of a few weeks, and some years back a gamekeeper
obtained three immature specimens in a couple of days on one piece of water.
From the number observed at these seasons, it is probable that our southern coasts arc visited at tho time
of migration by stragglers from tho continent, ns well as our native birds, that are on their way to and
from their breeding-quarters in the Highlands. The great majority of the specimens obtained arc, as a rule,
in immature plumage; and more than once I h a r e seen them in Norfolk all through May and as late as tho
first week in June. These, or course, must have been bird- that would not have nested that season.
Several pairs of Ospreys still resort to the central aad northern districts of the Highlands, and take up
their quarters for the summer months. Though their natural food is everywhere abundant, and the whole
face of the country is wild and deserted, they are but seldom observed among the Western Islands. I never
noticed a single specimen in the Outer Hebrides ; and, after many inquiries of keepers aud shepherds (who
were, 1 discovered, well acquainted with the species from bav iiig seen them on the mainland), I could hear of but
one bird having been met with in the district, and that was passed at sea during a fresh breeze of wind lialfwav
between Loch Shell and the Shiaut Islands. It is probable that, owing to the absence or trees or rocky
i s l e t s " and old buildings on the freshwater lochs, they may bo unable to tind suitable nesting-quarters. To
the same cause their scarcity in Caithness may he ascribed: trout are tn he found in every loch ami burn,
while solitude reigns supremo over the northern and western parts of the county; still it is only on rare
occasions that an Us prey makes it appearance.
Formerly they often frequented the mount aindoehs among the bleak and barren moors, where a Tew stunted
firs or dwarfed birches were the only timber. At the present time their favourite resorts, with but few
exceptions, are the more open parts of dense pine-forests that cover either steep bill-sides or rough marshy
low ground. In one or two instances the journey to their eyrie is an undertaking of no slight labour. It is
necessary to force a way through tangled heather of gigantic growth, entwined in places with matted bushes of
juniper or bog-myrtle, while hen' aud there waving hogs of green and treacherous moss an- intersected by
stagnant pools or streams concealed by luxuriant rushes and rank water-plants. At not uufrequent intervals
huge rocks and crumbling precipices or gullies, cut by winter torn'iits and blocked by fallen tree- with sharp
• I was told of a «tcatl ishnd, ill a locll at • idl'iii diiUnca fr'.ni tlie MM, b MM MB i\y MS IJrg-- bird of )MJ Iflxwitd) tlw WLj'.etailiil
Ktfft) hid noted. 1 started to visit the mj.iI ; but a beat)- • term, aceuiuianied liy blindii.g -juJl. of mow, rendu id oui JMM, wLich