50 FISH-HAWK, OR OSPREY. . 



of men, but generally, by the whole neighborhood where it resides, that 

 a person who should attempt to shoot one of them, would stand a fair 

 chance of being insulted. This prepossession in favor of the Fish- 

 Hawk is honorable to their feelings. They associate with its first 

 appearance ideas of plenty, and all the gaiety of business ; they see it 

 active and industrious like themselves ; inoffensive to the productions of 

 their farms ; building with confidence, and without the least disposition 

 to concealment, in the middle of their fields, and along their fences ; 

 and returning year after year regularly to its former abode. 



The nest of the Fish-Hawk is usually built on the top of a dead or 

 decaying tree, sometimes not more than fifteen, often upwards of fifty 

 feet, from the ground. It has been remarked by the people of the 

 seacoasts, that the most thriving tree will die in a few years, after being 

 taken possession of by the Fish-Hawk. This is attributed to the fish- 

 oil, and to the excrements of the bird ; but is more probably occasioned 

 by the large heap of wet, salt materials, of which it is usually composed. 

 In my late excursions to the seashore I ascended to several of these 

 nests, that had been built in from year to year, and found them con- 

 structed as follows ; externally large sticks, from half an inch to an 

 inch and a half in diameter, and two or three feet in length, piled to 

 the height of four or five feet, and from two to three feet in breadth ; 

 these were intermixed with corn-stalks, sea-weed, pieces of wet turf 

 in large quantities, mullein-stalks, and lined with dry sea-grass ; the 

 whole forming a mass very observable at half a mile's distance, and 

 large enough to fill a cart, and form no inconsiderable load for a horse. 

 These materials are so well put together, as often to adhere in large 

 fragments after being blown down by the wind. My learned and oblig- 

 ing correspondent of New York, Dr. Samuel L. Mitchill, observes, that 

 " A sort of superstition is entertained in regard to the Fish-Hawk. It 

 has been considered a fortunate incident to have a nest, and a pair of 

 these birds, on one's farm. They have therefore beerr generally res- 

 pected ; and neither the axe nor the gun has been lifted against them. 

 Their nest continues from year to year. The same couple, or another 

 as the case may be, occupies it season after season. Repairs are duly 

 made, or when demolished by storms it is industriously rebuilt. There 

 was one of these nests, formerly upon the leafless summit of a vener- 

 able chestnut-tree, on our farm, directly in front of the house, at the 

 distance of less than a half mile. The withered trunk and boughs, 

 surmounted by the coarse wrought and capacious nest, was a more 

 picturesque object than an obelisk. And the flights of the Hawks as 

 they went forth to hunt — returned with their game — exercised them- 

 selves in wheeling round and round and circling about it, were amusing 

 to the beholder almost from morning to night. The family of these 

 Hawks, old and young, was killed by the Hessian Jagers. A succeeding 



