[i8] 



which may be seen every fair Day all the Summer long and es- 

 pecially in a Morning. 



At the first coming of the Fish in the Spring, these Birds of 

 Prey are surprisingly eager. I believe in the Dead of Winter, 

 they Fish farther off at Sea, or remain among the craggy unin- 

 habited Islands, upon the Sea Coast. I have often been pleasantly 

 enteitain'd, by seeing these Hawks take the Fish out of the 

 Water, and as they were flying away with their Quarry, the bald 

 Eagles take it from them again. I have often observ'd the first of 

 these hover over the Water, and rest upon the Wing some Minutes 

 together, without the least change of Place, and then from a vast 

 Height, dart directly into the Water, and there plunge down for 

 the Space of Half a Minute, or more, and at last bring up with 

 him a Fish, which he could hardly rise with ; then having got 

 upon the Wing again, he wou'd shake himself so powerfully 

 that he threw the Water like a Mist about him ; afterwards away 

 he'd fly to the Woods with his Game, if he were not overlook'd 

 by the Bald-Eagle, and robb'd by the Way, which very frequently 

 happens. For the Bald-Eagle no sooner perceives a Hawk that 

 has taken his Prey, but he immediately pursues, and strives to 

 get above him in the Air, which if he can once attain, the Hawk 

 for fear of being torn by him lets the Fish drop, and so by the 

 Loss of his Dinner, compounds for his own Safety. 



The poor Fish is no sooner loosed from the Hawk's Tallons, 

 but the Eagle shoots himself with wonderful Swiftness, after it, 

 and catches it in the Air, leaving all further pursuit of the Hawk, 

 which has no other Remedy but to go and fish for another. 



Walking once with a Gentleman in an Orchard by the River- 

 side eaily in the Spring, before the Fish were by us perceiv'd to 

 appear in Shoal-Water, or near the Shores, and before any had 

 been caught by the People ; we heard a great Noise in the Air 

 just over our Heads, and looking up, we see an Eagle in close 

 pursuit of a Hawk, that had a great Fish in his Pounces. The 

 Hawk was as low as the Apple-Trees, before he wou'd let go his 

 Fish, thinking to recover the Wood, which was just by, where 

 the Eagles dare never follow, for fear of bruising themselves. 

 But, notwithstanding the Fish was dropp'd so low and tho' it did 

 not fall above Thirty Yards from us, yet we wnth our Hollowing, 

 Running, and casting up our Hats, could hardly save the Fish 



