546 THE OSPREY. 



shoals of fish arrive on these coasts, this well known Hawk 

 appears as a welcome herald to the fisherman; and about 

 the 23d of September it departs for the south. 



Along the New Jersey coast the bird is very abundant, its 

 flight over land and sea, but especially over the latter, being 

 a marked and beautiful feature of the landscape. From 

 the waters alone it derives its sustenance. Though its early 

 northward migration, while ice and snow may still abound, 

 render its fishing precarious, it is never known to seek 

 any prey on land. Sailing with almost motionless wings in 

 grand easy circles, the great length and peculiar curvature 

 of the wings readily designating the bird to the eye, its 

 constant search for food would seem the mere play and 

 poetry of motion. Occasionally its circles in flight are so 

 small that it almost seems, indeed, to be turning "in the 

 air as on a pivot." Frequently the flight is low over the 

 water, but it may range to a very considerable height, the 

 eye being keen enough to descry its prey at the bird's great- 

 est elevation. In the act of capture it may drop lightly 

 on the water, and almost pick up its struggling object in a 

 gull-like manner; or it may shoot down from a consider- 

 able height, and fairly plunging in swift pursuit, lift out 

 a fish of six pounds or upwards. 



When several feet above the water, it seems to hesitate 

 with a quivering motion, as if shaking off the water, 

 spaniel-like, or perhaps to grapple its prey more firmly; then, 

 moving off with a vigorous stroke and bearing its prey length- 

 wise and head foremost, it seeks the land, more commonly 

 some tree, on which to devour it. Not infrequently it may 

 hover with a firm flapping of the wings in quest of its object, 

 sailing on if disappointed; and again almost plunging in 

 eager pursuit, it may still fail of capture, but is never over- 

 excited or disconcerted, seeming to know that there are 



