118 PANDION HALIAETUS. 



Wilson's account of its manners is very animated, and 

 probably very correct ; but as I have the pleasure of 

 knowing the other American ornithologist, and can use 

 the liberty of conversing with him on the subject, I shall 

 here offer an abridged account of his history of this ex- 

 pert fisher. 



The Fish-hawk, he says, has a more social disposi- 

 tion than most other birds of the family. Both in 

 spring and in autumn it migrates in numbers, and in- 

 dividuals nestle and fish in the vicinity of each other 

 without offering or receiving insult or hinderance. They 

 even allow certain other birds to approach so near them 

 as to build their nests in the outer parts of their own ; 

 and so unwarlike are they, that they are never seen to 

 attack other species, or to dispute the right of the 

 White-headed Eagle to rob them of their prey. 



It differs from most other predatory birds in never 

 attempting to secure its prey in the air ; and although 

 Mr Audubon observed them sailing about and plunging 

 into the water in the midst of shoals of flying fish, they 

 did not endeavour at any time to seize them while above 

 the surface, but plunged after one of them or a bonita 

 fish, after they had resumed their usual mode of swim- 

 ming near the surface. 



The motions of the Fish-hawk in the air are graceful. 

 It rises with ease to a great height, in large spiral 

 curves, dives at times in the air, and resumes its sail- 

 ings. When searching for food, it flies with easy flap- 

 pings at a moderate height above the water, and ap- 

 parently in a listless mood, although in reality it is all 

 the while keenly inspecting the objects beneath. On 

 spying a fish which it considers a suitable prize, it 



