Song Birds and Water Fowl 
this particular point their direction was from 
east to west, they were pursuing such a course 
as migrants at this season would adopt in mov- 
ing southward along the coast. 
Near the light-house I saw my first osprey, 
or fish hawk (I call him szne, by that divine 
license that gives to every naturalist a sense of 
owning everything that comes within his view). 
On the blasted relic of a tree, as dead as though 
drowned in the Flood and standing ever since, 
in which was a huge, coarse nest that may have 
been his, he was breakfasting on his usual diet. 
He seemed loath to be disturbed at his repast, 
and allowed me to approach him nearer than 
he would otherwise have done ; but at last, fear- 
ful that there might be powder behind my eyes, 
he seized the fish in his talons, and, with a 
majestic flight that fully concealed his fear, 
sailed away. ‘This splendid hawk is recogniz- 
able among other species both by its great 
size—being two feet long, with an immense 
spread of wing—and by the fact that the head 
and neck are largely white, as is the entire 
under side of the body. ‘The tree, nest and 
bird were a most harmonious picture, and pleas- 
ing to any one who likes a dash of cold severity 
in scenery now and then. I am almost ashamed 
Igo 
