OF NEW ENGLAND. 375 



like those of a heron, which are relieved bj'' sailing. When 

 hunting, he more often moves in circles, and frequently at a 

 considerable height. He often deceives some eager spectator 

 by diving, as if to make a plunge, but he suddenly resumes 

 his course, and continues to sail quietly. Finally he becomes 

 absorbed in gazing at the movements of his prey ; then, hov- 

 ering for a moment, plunges head-long, and, disappearing be- 

 neath the surface, dashes up the foam. Sometimes he seizes 

 so large a prize that a desperate struggles ensues, in which 

 now the fish and then the bird appears out of his element, and 

 it is said that he occasionally loses his life through being im- 

 prudent or too ambitious. Generally, however, he at once 

 rises, and with his prey in his talons, flies to the shore, where, 

 if not molested by robbers, he feeds in some tree upon liis well 

 earned meal. He is either no glutton, or has an insatiable 

 appetite, for he is seldom or never seen gorged, but, when not 

 eating, or necessarily at rest, he continues his active search, 

 I do not know what are the largest fish that he catches, but I 

 have been assured that one, which a bird dropped upon being 

 frightened, weighed fully six pounds. The Fish Hawks are 

 very spirited, and have been known to wound seriously in- 

 truders upon their nests, which, b}^ the way, they are said by 

 Wilson to repair in autumn to withstand the winter. 



(cZ). Their notes are various, being sometimes piercing 

 screams, but at other times a succession of agreeable whistles. 



§ 28. The American vultures (cathartid^) have the 

 head chiefly naked, and the hind-toe not on a level with the 

 others, which are slightly webbed. Two southern species, the 

 Turkey "Buzzard"^ {Cathartes aura) and the Carrion "Crow" 

 (C. atratus), have accidentally occurred in Massachusetts once 

 or twice. The former is very dark ; " head red ; feet flesh- 

 colored ; bill white. * * * * ; tail rounded. Length about 

 2^ feet; extent 6; wing 2; tail 1. U. S., from Atlantic to 



' See, for authority, " The Naturalists' Guide," of Mr. Mayuard, p. 137, IGOth 

 species. 



