SPECIES 6. FrfLCO HALIJETUS. 



FISH-HAWK, OR OSPREY. 



[Plate XXX VII. Fig. 1.] 



Carolina Osprey, LATH. Syn. i, p. 46, No. 26, Jl. Falco piscator, 

 BHISS. i, p. 361, No. 14; 362, No. 15. Faucon pecheur de la 

 Caroline, BUFF. i,p. 142. Fishing Hawk, CATESB. Car. i, p. 

 2. Falco Carolinensis, GMEL. Syst. i, p. 263, No. 26. PEALE'S 

 Museum, No. 144.* 



THIS formidable, vigorous-winged, and well-known bird, sub- 

 sists altogether on the finny tribes that swarm in our bays, 

 creeks, and rivers; procuring his prey by his own active skill 

 and industry; and seeming no farther dependent on the land 

 than as a mere resting place, or in the usual season, a spot of 

 deposite for his nest, eggs and young. The figure here given 

 is reduced to one-third the size of life, to correspond with that 

 of the Bald Eagle, his common attendant, and constant plun- 

 derer. 



The Fish-Hawk is migratory; arriving on the coasts of New 

 York and New Jersey about the twenty-first of March, and re- 

 tiring to the south about the twenty-second of September. 

 Heavy equinoctial storms may vary these periods of arrival 

 and departure a few days; but long observation has ascertained, 

 that they are kept with remarkable regularity. On the arrival 

 of these birds in the northern parts of the United States, in 

 March, they sometimes find the bays and ponds frozen, and ex- 

 perience a difficulty in procuring fish for many days. Yet 

 there is no instance on record of their attacking birds, or infe- 

 rior land animals, with intent to feed upon them; though their 

 great strength of flight, as well of feet and claws, would seem 



* The following synonymes may be added: Le Balbuzard, BUFF. PI. Enl 

 414. Apulia jnscatrix Vieillot Ois, del' Am. Sept: v.i, p. 29, pi. 4. 



