FISH-HAWK OR OSPREY. 79 



teiior around Hudson's Bay, to Florida ; and, according 

 to Buffon, it extends its residence to the tropical regions 

 of Cayenne. 



Its food being almost uniformly fish, it readily acquires 

 subsistence as long as the waters remain unfrozen ; but 

 at the commencement of cool weather, even as early as 

 the close of September, or at farthest the middle of Octo- 

 ber, they leave New York and New Jersey, and migrate 

 further south. This early period of departure is, in all 

 probability, like their arrival towards the close of March, 

 wholly regulated by the coming and going of the shoals 

 of fisli on which they are accustomed to feed.* Their 

 arrival in the spring is welcomed by the fisherman, as 

 the sure indication of the approach of those shoals of 

 shad, herring, and other kinds of fish which now begin 

 to throng the bays, inlets, and rivers near the ocean ; 

 and the abundance with which the- Avaters teem affords 

 ample sustenance for both the aerial and terrestrial 

 fishers, as each pursues in peace his favorite and neces- 

 sary employment. In short, the harmless industry of the 

 Osprey, the familiarity with which he rears his young 

 around the farm, his unexpected neutrality towards all 

 the domestic animals near him, his sublimely picturesque 

 flight, and remarkable employment, with the strong af- 

 fection displayed towards his constant mate and long 

 helpless young, and the wrongs he hourly suffers from 

 the pirate Eagle, are circumstances sufficiently calcu- 

 lated, v.ithout the aid of ready superstition, to ensure the 

 public favor and tolerance towards this welcome visitor. 

 Driven to no harsh necessities, like his superiors, the 

 Eagles, he leads a comparatively harmless life ; and 



* Towards the close of March, or bcginningof April, they arrive in the vicinity of 

 Boston with the first shoal of alewives or herrings, but yet are seldom known to 

 breed alons the coast of Massachusetts. 



