The following statement places the matter in a clear light :—Aristotle, about B.C. 300, describes the (iNLaieros as 'a species of eagle dwelling near seas and lakes; and remarks, it sometimes happens to it, that having seized its prey, and not being able to carry it, it is drowned in the deep' (Hist. Animal. ix. c. 32). The word is rendered alietus in the ancient translation, aquila marina and halimtus by Gaza (Ven. A. D. 1476), and aquila marina, neser halimtus, and haliwtus by Scaliger. About the time of Aristotle, the ablest of all the Septuagint translators renders the Hebrew word ozniyah by aNialeros. The same word is found in the writings of Pliny (A.D. 7o) with the following de scription There remains (to be mentioned) the halixtos, having the most penetrating vision of all (eagles) ; soaring (or balancing itself) on high, and upon perceiving a fish in the sea, rushing down headlong, and with its breast dashing aside the waters, seizing its prey' (Hist. Nat. x. 3). The same word is adopted by Jerome as answering to the Hebrew ozniyah, A.D. 380, and the halimtus is described in the very words of Aristotle and Pliny by Aldrovandus (lib. :di. Bonon. 1594, p. 194); the transference of names into the Linnman system has already been traced (see Systema Nature, vol. i. p. 129, Holmie 1767). The word, according to its etymology, signifies sea-eagle, and the tradi tional English word is ospray. The following ac
counts from modem naturalists are strikingly in accordance with the ancient descriptions:— Species of the halimtus, or sea-eagle, occur in Europe, Asia, Africa, America, and Australia (Selby's British Ornithology).
Mr. Macgillivray describes its savage scream of anger when any one approaches the neighbourhood of its nest, its intimidating gestures, and even its attempts to molest individuals who have ventured among its native crags.' Mr. Selby (Illustrations of British Ornithology, 1825), respecting the ospray, observes, ' It is strictly piscivorous, and is found only in the vicinity of lakes, rivers, or such pools as abound with fish. It is a powerful bird, often weighing five pounds ; the limbs are very musadarin proportion to its general dimensions ; its feet are admirably adapted for retaining firm hold of its slippery prey.' Mr. Montagu (Ornithological Dictionary, 1802, article °spray') remarks, Its principal food is fish, which it often catches with great dexterity, by pouncing upon them with vast rapidity, and carrying them of in its talons.' In the supplement to his work, Exeter 1813, many additional facts are re lated respecting the ospray, which, together with the foregoing reasons, serve to identify it with the halixtus of the ancients (see also Grandsagne's edition of Pliny, with Notes and Excursus by. Cuvier, Parisiis 1828, p. 215).—J. F. D.