314 



HISTORY OP CALIFORNIA. 



THE FISH HAWK. 



and graceful, and its plunge, when sweeping down to 

 its finny prey, inconceivably rapid. Audubon says 

 that it never strikes at a fish leaping out of the water. 

 In the Gulf of Mexico, where these birds are numer- 

 ous, and where shoals of flying-fish are continually 

 emerging from the sea to escape the pursuit of the 

 dolphins, he observed that the Fish-hawks never made 

 a sweep at them, but would at once plunge after them, 

 or other fish, while swimming in their usual mode near 

 the surface. When it plunges into the water in pur- 

 suit of a fish, it sometimes proceeds deep enough to 

 disappear for an instant, throwing the water around 

 into foam ; on rising, it mounts a few yards into the 



