find no others equally expressive, and I flatter myself
that my meaning in this instance must be clear enough.
For obvious reasons the Osprey prefers shallow
waters for its operations, and the great lagoons of
Sardinia, Corsica, and Tunis are especially favourite
resorts. This bird generally builds a huge nest of
sticks: I have never looked into one except when
crowded with young birds, but I am inclined to think
that the few that I have seen were capped or lined with
fragments of sea-weed. The eggs are usually three in
number, and are certainly amongst the most beautiful
of those of British birds. I have found it impossible to
keep this species alive in captivity for any length of
time. It is perhaps unnecessary, but will not occupy
much space, to inform my fair readers that the “ Osprey”
of the plumassiers and hat and bonnet makers has
nothing to do with the present bird, but is applied to
the plumes of various species of the Egret-family, used
by unreasoning womankind too frequently as aids to
natural attraction.