The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1894-08-25

year and laid their eggs. They have
not, however, been uniformly success
full in raising their young, owing 20
their lack OF foresight in not selecting
an absolutely inaccessible site for the
nest. They may gain other advan-
tages, but these are not palpable.
Among such birds two kinds are
especially well known 10 the iuhab-
itants OF Gibraltar-the osprey and
Bonellis eagle. Though o very bold
and savage bird, he cannot compare in
size and grandeur with the golden
eagle-he is, in fact one OF the small
est eagles; but he does know how to
look after himself, and of all the birds
OF prey whose nests have visited, he
selects the most inaccessible position,
and uses il year after year, like others
OF his race, till what was originally
probably only few sticks, grows into
n mass which may be reckoned by
tons of weight.
For the benefit OF my readers who
have not seen the famous fortress, the
following description may give some
faint idea OF the natural difficulties TO
be contended with when nest hunting
OIL the IOtkN NlAt III AlnihlAlif Viz
raltar is between five and six miles in
circumference, and fourteen hundred
feet high at It's highest point called
O'IIaras tower. ON the west and
northwest side IL slopes steeply 10 the
sea. and is covered in most places with
dense bushes and grass. and at the
foot OF the slope the town is situated.
The north side terminates i'm tre-
mcndous precipice, quite yerticle. and
about three hundred feet in height,
and i'm this face are found the famous
galleries built during the three years
siege.
The east aud southeast, or Mediter-
ranean side, Is also one continuous
line OF clin, varying from thirteen
hundred feet at the north end TO four
teen hundred on the southeast. II is
In this face that all the nests are
built, and from February 60 June,
looking down from the signal station,
one can see the eagles sitting on the
eggs or feeding the young.
From O'lIara's tower. stone
dropped would fall into the Meditcr.
ranean without touching anything in
its descent. and this from a height of
fourteen hundred feet
Wei might a bird nesting halfway
down this tremendous precipice deem
itself To be safe from intrusion; but
Just 20 the right of the center line OF
the descent there Is a grass-grown
ledge. four hundred feet above the
water which, II you eau reach H. will
bring you TO point only about a hun
drcd feet above the osprey's nest.
Here the ospreys have raised their
young since the last century, at least
and the nest is now an enormous
structure, built between the cliff and
a huge projecting bowlder, which
shelters IL from the gales, and Is 9
convenient perch for the old bird.
The osprey may be seen close TO OF
sitting In the nest from the latter enc
OF March. and on a fine day, when the
wind is not from the east, II Is mos
pleasant row from the anchorage
round To the east side, where the nes
may easily be seen.
One day in March, two years ago
four OF us were enjoying row on th'
delightfully."- calm water In the neigh
borhood have just described, when W.
heard a loud scream, and, looking mp
saw an osprey, disturbed by our pres
encc. fly OFT what we made out will
our binoculars 10 be an immense nest