Vol. XII l Sag'E, An Ilis/oric Letter. ^6 1 



1S95 J 



is one of the greatest naturalists we liave & I presume would be 

 happy to give you any information he has. He informs me he 

 has the pleasure of being acquainted with you. 



" If ten volumes will not well contain our American Birds I 

 hope you will add volumes enough to contain the whole. It is a 

 work in which our national character is interested & I am 

 anxious it should be a work of as much celebrity as any Euro- 

 pean publication. 



" If you should acknowledge the receipt of this you will direct 

 to me on this Island — Suffolk County, State of N. York. 



" With much respect & esteem I am your friend 



"John L. Gardiner. 



"Facts as to the Fish Hawk on Gardiner's Island. 



" I. They are regular in arriving on the 21 March & in leaving 

 the place on 2 1 Sepr. heavy equinoctial storms only prevent a day 

 or so. 



" 2. They repair their nests a few days before they leave them 

 & being on high dry topped trees, they frequently have their nests 

 blown away entirely during winter. 



"3. They lay generally three eggs — hatch about i July. 



" 4. Are very fierce & bold while they have eggs or young & 

 have been known to fix their claws in a negro's head, that was 

 attempting to get to the nest — but was obliged to desist from the 

 attempt on account of the flow of blood from the wound. Black- 

 birds build their nests in the side of the nests of the Fish Hawks. 



"5. As soon as they arrive they wage war on the Eagle & by 

 numbers & perseverance drive him off. The Eagle in darting 

 on the Hawk obliges him to quit his fish — which before it reaches 

 the ground the Eagle seizes. 



" 6. Sometimes on fixing their claws in too large a fish — are 

 taken under water before they can clear themselves. 



"7. When the Fish Hawks are seen high in the air sailing 

 around in circles it is a sign of a change in the weather very soon 

 — generally of a thunder storm in two or three hours. 



"8. Are never known to eat anything but fish— commonly eat 

 the head first. Are frequently seen cutting strange gambols in 



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