246 PANDION HALIAETUS. 



carries head foremost, and, having risen a few feet above the 

 surface, shakes himself as a water-spaniel would do, and directs 

 his heavy and laborious course directly for the land. If the 

 wind blow hard, and his nest lie in the quarter from whence 

 it comes, it is amusing to observe with what judgment and 

 exertion he beats to windward, not in a direct line, that is, in 

 the wind's eye, but making several successive tacks to gain 

 his purpose. This will appear the more striking, when we 

 consider the size of the fish which he sometimes bears along. 

 A shad was taken from a Fish Hawk near Great Egg Har- 

 bour, on which he had begun to regale himself, and had al- 

 ready ate a considerable portion of it ; the remainder weighed 

 six pounds. Another Fish Hawk was passing ISIr Beasley"'s, 

 at the same place, with a large flounder in his grasp, which 

 struggled and shook him so, that he dropt it on the shore." 

 Yet the weight of the Osprey itself is only from four to five 

 pounds. Sometimes, according to the same author, it over- 

 rates its strength, and " the bodies of sturgeon, and several 

 other large fish, with that of a Fish Hawk fast grappled in 

 them, have at different times been found dead on the shore, 

 cast up by the waves." It may be so, but Wilson does not 

 say that he has seen an Osjjrey at anchor on a sturgeon. The 

 descent from " the higher regions of the air" too, I think re- 

 quires proof. Mr Audubon says that " whilst in search of 

 food, it flies with easy flappings at a moderate height above 

 the water, and with an apparent listlessness, although in reality 

 it is keenly observing the objects beneath. No sooner does it 

 spy a fish suited to its taste, than it checks its course with a 

 sudden shake of its wings and tail, which gives it the appear- 

 ance of being poised in the air for a moment, after which it 

 plunges headlong with great rapidity into the water, to se- 

 cure its prey, or continues its flight, if disappointed by having 

 observed the fish sink deeper." It is only when it has satisfied 

 its hunger that, according to this more accurate observer, it 

 sails about at a great height over the neighbouring waters. 



According to the same author, the nest is generally placed 

 in a large tree near the water, but occasionally at no greater 

 height than seven or eight feet. On the Florida Keys he saw 



