THE OSPREY. The osprey is not as large as the eagle, but he has a hooked bill and sharp claws like the eagle.His coloring is dark brown with black and white spots, and he is from twenty to twenty-two inches long. His breast is mostly white. His tail and wings are long.The osprey is often found sitting in a tree over a pond, lake or river. He is also found by the seaside.He watches the fish as they swim in the water beneath him, and then he darts down suddenly and catches one of them.When he catches a fish in his sharp, rough claws, he carries it off to eat. As he flies away with it for his dinner, an eagle sees him. The eagle fliesat him fiercely with his sharp bill and claws and compels the osprey to drop the fish.Then the eagle catches the fish as it falls and carries it off.The poor osprey, with a loud cry, timidly flies away. He must go again to the water and catch another fish for his dinner.
1.Where do ospreys live? // 2.Why does the osprey let the eagle take its fish? // 3.How are ospreys and eagles alike? // 4.Why do you think ospreys live where they do?
