WASHINGTON EAGLE AND FISH-HAWK. 305 



entitle it to the universal sympathy which it commands from 

 mankind. Wilson gives a fine instance in point. 



" A pair of these birds, on the south side of Great Egg Har- 

 bor river, and near its mouth, were noted for several years. 

 The female, having but one leg, was regularly furnished, 

 while sitting, with fish in such abundance that she seldom 

 left the nest, and never to seek food. This kindness was 

 continued both before and after incubation. Some animals, 

 who claim the name and rationality of man, might blush at 

 the recital of this fact." 



Audubon also gives another example of the strength and 

 beautity of this conjugal feeling in his noble paper on this 

 bird. He says: 



"The male assists in incubation, during the continuance 

 of which the one bird supplies the other with food, although 

 each in turn goes in quest of some for itself. At such times 

 the male bird is now and then observed rising to an immense 

 height in the air, over the spot where his mate is seated. This 

 he does by ascending almost in a direct line, by means of 

 continued flappings, meeting the breeze with his white 

 breast, and occasionally uttering a cackling kind of note, by 

 which the bystander is enabled to follow him in his progress. 

 When the Fish-Hawk has attained its utmost elevation, 

 which is sometimes such that the eye can no longer perceive 

 him, he utters a loud shriek, and dives smoothly on half-ex- 

 tended wings toward his nest. But before he reaches it, he 

 is seen to expand his wings and tail, and in this manner he 

 glides toward his beloved female, in a beautifully curved 

 line. The female partially raises herself from her eggs, emits 

 a low cry, resumes her former posture, and her delighted 

 partner flies off to the sea, to seek a favorite fish for her 

 whom he loves." 



If there was ever anything more tender and graceful than 

 this little scene in the love-making of arrogant humanity, I 

 have it yet to see. The harmlessness of its pursuits and 

 habits, its many traits of fidelity and courage in its family re- 



20 



