The OSPREY, RIVER EAGLE, or FISH HAWK (_Pandion Haliaëtos_), although
included in this extensive group, may be regarded as forming a connecting
link between the Eagles (from which it differs in many essential
particulars) and the Kites. In this species the body is comparatively
short and powerful, and the head large: the beak rises from immediately
beneath the cere, and terminates in a very large hook; the wings, in
which the third quill is the longest, extend beyond the by no means
short tail. The legs are very robust, and only covered with feathers
above the heel; the tarsi are unusually strong, and protected by thick,
small scales; the toes, the outermost of which can be turned either
backwards or forwards, are short, and armed with short and powerful
talons. The plumage of the Osprey is peculiarly smooth and compact; its
prevailing colour is yellowish white, marked upon the head and nape
with longitudinal blackish brown streaks, the feathers on these parts
terminating in sharp points; the rest of the upper part of the body is
brown, each feather being bordered with a lighter shade; the tail is
brown, striped with black. The under portions of the body are white, or
yellowish white; a dark streak passes from the eyes to the middle of the
throat, and the breast is adorned either with a collar or shield-shaped
patch of brown feathers, which are in some cases distinct, but in others
scarcely visible. The eye is bright yellow, the cere and feet lead
colour, while the beak and claws are of a brilliant black.
This bird is found throughout the entire continent of Europe, the greater
part of Asia, and upon the rivers of Northern and Western Africa. Many
naturalists are of opinion that the American Ospreys should be regarded
as the same species, so very slightly do they differ from their European
representatives, either in their appearance or manner of life. The River
Eagle lives almost exclusively upon fish, and passes its life in such
places as afford a plentiful supply; it only visits northern regions
during the summer months, remaining throughout the rest of the year in
warmer latitudes. During the course of its migrations, every piece of
water over which it passes is subjected to close inspection, and even
the finny inhabitants of the humblest pond are not safe from this most
destructive and voracious marauder. Its eyrie is usually constructed upon
a high tree, and formed of moss and twigs; the eggs, two or three in
number, are greyish white, marked with pale yellowish red spots. Owing
to the great strength of its wings, this bird is capable of flying to a
very considerable distance from its roosting-place, to which, however, it
always returns for rest or shelter. As soon as the mist has cleared away
from the surface of the water, the business of the day commences, and
about noon the Osprey may be seen careering through the air, preparatory
to descending by a series of graceful evolutions upon the river or
lake, over which it has hitherto sailed at a considerable altitude. At
the first indication of a fish being about to rise, the observant bird
arrests its progress, hovers for a moment above the spot, and then swoops
down with great velocity upon its prey. All attempts to elude the fierce
destroyer are useless, for even should the Osprey be completely submerged
during the struggle, it rises again with ease, bearing its prize safely
grasped by the back, shakes the water from its wings, and flies away with
its victim to a neighbouring tree, or, if too heavy, drags it to the bank
there to be devoured. The only exception to this mode of fishing is when
the Osprey perceives an eel in the vicinity of the water, this it pounces
upon, and transfixes with its "iron talons," and then, after tearing
it to pieces, devours some portions of the body, entirely rejecting
the entrails. Next to the Otter, this Eagle may be considered as the
most destructive of all the many enemies to whose attacks well-stocked
ponds and rivers are incessantly exposed, and for this reason it is
regarded with great hostility by all cultivators of fish. In North
America alone it is treated with favour, being supposed, by a popular
superstition, to bring luck to the district in which it builds its nest.
With all varieties of swimming birds the Osprey lives upon the most
amicable terms, but Crows, Swallows, and Wagtails pursue and harass it
so perseveringly that it will often throw down its hardly-earned booty
in order to escape from their unrelenting persecution. Traps baited with
fish are employed in North America by those who wish to obtain these
birds alive; so wary are they, however, that their capture is attended
with great difficulty. When caged, even if supplied with plenty of fresh
fish, they rarely survive imprisonment for more than a few months, and
are, for this reason, numbered amongst the greatest rarities in our
aviaries.
In England, as Yarrell informs us, specimens of this bird have been
obtained in Surrey, Sussex, and almost every county on the north-east
coast. Two or three have been killed in Durham, and they are said to be
met with on the north-west coast of Scotland rather more frequently than
elsewhere.
Sir W. Jardine says that in Scotland, "a pair or two may be found about
most of the Highland lochs where they fish, and, during the breeding
season, build on the ruined towers so common on the margins or on the
insulated rocks of these wild waters. The nest is an immense fabric of
rotten sticks--
'Itself a burden for the tallest tree--'
and is generally placed, if such exists, on the top of the chimney,
or, if this be wanting, on the highest summit of the building. An aged
tree may sometimes be chosen, but ruins are always preferred, if near
water. They have the same propensity for returning to a station with
those of America, and, if one is shot, a mate is soon found and brought
to the ancient abode. Loch Lomond, Loch Awe, Killchurn Castle, and Loch
Menteith, have long been breeding places."
* * * * *
The KITES (_Milvi_) constitute a group of Falcons, many species of
which are to be met with in all parts of the world. Of these birds it
is almost impossible to speak in general terms, so very various is
their appearance; and we must therefore confine ourselves to saying
that they are for the most part slender in shape, with short necks, and
small or moderate sized heads. Their wings are always long and pointed,
and usually rather narrow; the tail varies considerably in length,
but is generally very long and forked--really _short_ tails are only
exceptionally met with in this group. The foot, which is either long and
weak or small and heavy, is invariably furnished with short toes; the
beak is moderate, usually curving directly from its base, and hooked
at the extremity, near which it occasionally presents a tooth-like
appendage; the claws are slightly rounded and very sharp. The plumage is
extremely soft and tolerably dense about the region of the head, forming
in some instances a kind of ruff of long feathers which surround the
ears, and, when spread out, materially assist the sense of hearing. To
these characteristics we can only add that their colours are sometimes
pale, and sometimes exceedingly bright. All the various members of this
group are remarkable for the excellence of their flight, which differs
essentially from that of any other birds of prey. Unlike the True
Falcons, their movements are extremely calm and regular--indeed, they may
be said to travel through the realms of air without any direct stroke
of the wing, a peculiarity which occasionally gives a rocking motion to
the flight of some species, the points of the wings being at such times
held above the plane of the body. When upon the ground, however, their
movements are by no means effected with equal facility--some species walk
with ease, while others appear to progress with great difficulty. In all
these birds the sense of sight is very highly developed, and such as
possess the long feathers around the neck hear with great acuteness; of
the delicacy of their sense of taste we cannot speak with any certainty.
As regards intelligence, the Kites are decidedly inferior to other
Falcons; they are cautious and persevering, cunning and inquisitive,
extremely rapacious, but so destitute of courage that we must stigmatise
them as mere thieves, amongst whom the reckless deeds of daring often
wrought by other members of the fraternity are entirely unknown; indeed,
a Kite always prefers to follow in the wake of some other bird of prey,
in order to obtain the refuse of its hardly-earned spoil, rather than
engage in any struggle on its own account. Great diversity is observable
in the mode of life adopted by the various species of Kites; the greater
number live entirely apart, not merely from other birds, but from their
own kind, while some fly about in pairs--only a few dwell together
in small parties: these latter, however, are very sociable, and much
attached to their companions. All are alike active and restless; from the
first dawn of day till twilight has closed in they may be seen winging
their way over the face of the country, occasionally pausing in their
varied and beautiful gyrations, to descend slowly earthward and snatch
the morsel they have espied from afar.
The food of the Kites consists principally of the smaller quadrupeds,
defenceless birds, toads, fish, and various insects. Some species
subsist entirely upon the latter diet, and hunt their prey in a manner
more resembling that of the Swallow than the mode practised by other
Falcons; but very few will devour carrion. On the whole, these birds must
be regarded as useful to man, though some are very destructive to his
property. The eyrie varies considerably in its construction; sometimes it
is built upon rocks or in holes of walls, sometimes on church steeples,
trees, bushes, or even the bare ground. The number of eggs varies from
one to five; both parents assist in the work of incubation, and tend
their young with great assiduity. When caged all the members of this
group are easily tamed, and some attach themselves to their keepers, but
they entirely lose their vivacity, and are quite unable to survive any
lengthened confinement. Among the Bashkirs some species are trained to
assist their masters in the chase.