OSPREY. 119 



checks its course by suddenly shaking its wings and 

 tail, plunges lieadlong into the water, and seizes its 

 prey ; or, if disappointed by the retreat of the fish, re- 

 covers itself and continues its flight. 



In plunging after a fish, it sometimes entirely disap- 

 pears for an instant, and the surge caused by its descent 

 is such as to make the spot around it present the ap- 

 pearance of a mass of foam. On rising with its prey, 

 it mounts a few yards into the air, shakes its plumage, 

 squeezes the fish with its talons, and immediately pro- 

 ceeds towards its nest to feed its young, or betakes it- 

 self to a tree to devour the fruit of its industry unmo- 

 lested. When it has satisfied its hunger, it does not, 

 like other hawks, remain perched until again urged by 

 hunger to sally forth, but usually sails about at a great 

 height. 



It seldom alights on the ground, and when it does 

 so, walks with difficulty, and in an extremely awkward 

 manner. It shews a great attachment to the tree to 

 which it carries its prey, and will not abandon it unless 

 frequently molested; and it manifests the same liking 

 towards that on which it has built its first nest, return- 

 ing to it year after year. 



The Fish-hawk arrives on the southern coasts of the 

 United States early in February, in the Middle States 

 about the beginning of April. After the arrival of the 

 females, which takes place eight or ten days later, the 

 males are seen playing in the air, chasing each other 

 in sport, or sailing by the side of their chosen females, 

 uttering cries of joy and exultation. Each pair then 

 begins to repair their nest of the previous year, or to 

 form a new one. It is generally placed in a large tree, 



