on the i pickerel's fin-shaped oars and the 

 bird went under water for the third time, 

 but with his wicked claws as firmly 

 clamped into the quivering body as ever. 

 Coming to the surface more quickly the 

 next time, the osprey swung his head far 

 back, and' with his ugly hook shaped 

 beak struck the fish a mighty blow on 

 the back of the head. The pickerel 

 shivered, stiffened, and lay still. 



The fight was over, but the panting 

 hawk still hung on to his victim. 



Recovering his breath in a few min- 

 utes, the bird spread his wings and with 

 much flapping, laboriously towed the 

 dead fish along on the water across the 

 lake, where he dragged it up on a sand 

 beach. Here he sat for a long time, 

 resting. Then with his hooked beak he 

 carved up that pickerel for his stren- 

 uously acquired meal. I have many 

 times seen hawks catch fish, but on all 

 other occasions they have been able to 



9 



