PANDION CAROLINENSIS — THE FISH HAWK. 217 



covered with small circular scales ; claws large, curved, very- 

 sharp; tail moderate. 



I. Pandion Oarolinensis, Gmelin. — The Fish Hawk. 



Wilson's^.Amer. Orn., V., pi. 37; Audubon's B. of Am., 

 Oct. ed., I., pi. 15; DeKay, Nat. Hist. N. Y., Birds, pi. 8, 

 fig. 15. 



The Fish Hawk is widely distributed over the whole 

 country, and at one time was quite plentiful in Ohio. 

 When Dr. Kirtland resided at Poland, Mahoning county, 

 these birds built their nests in the vicinity of the village, 

 and could be seen every day during the summer season. 

 Now they are rare. A few pairs are generally to be found 

 fishing in Sanduskj'- Bay, but they are somewhat shy and 

 it is difficult to get a shot at them. Occasionally a speci- 

 men will make its appearance near the shore of the Lake, 

 in the vicinity of Cleveland. The last we saw there was 

 about ten years since, although others have seen individ- 

 uals more recently. 



We are not aware that this Hawk breeds near this place, 

 but in the less frequented parts of our State, and in the 

 neighborhood of water, the nests may sometimes be seen. 

 On the Upper Lakes these birds are very numerous, and 

 along the rapids of Sault Ste. Marie, Dr. Garlick informs 

 us, he has seen them plying their trade with great dilli- 

 gence, darting into the water and bringing up white fish 

 of the largest size. At one time, this gentleman observed 

 a Hawk endeavoring to carry off two large fish, one grasped 

 in each foot, but finding the weight too great, dropped one 

 and bore off the other. 



For a long time our species v/as considered identical 

 with that of Europe— P. 7ialicBtus—Rr\d it is figured and 

 described by both Wilson and Audubon as such. Cassin, 

 however, is of a diff"erent opinion, and says: "The Amer- 

 i can Osprey is very similar to that of the Old Continent, 



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