The ospray is a bird allied to the large fish-eating eagles. It steadily balances itself over the water with scarcely a wing moving, and darts down upon a fish when it comes to the surface, strikes its sharp hooked talons into its side, and carries it to the shore. It was classed among the unclean birds (Lev. 11:13; Deut. 14:12). The ospray belongs to the family of Falconidæ, of the order of birds which seize their food with violence. The Pandion haliaeetus is the species probably alluded to.