

306 WILD SCENES AND SONG-BIRDS. 



lations, its coming always as the harbinger of spring and 

 fresh abundance in the teeming waters, the persecutions to 

 which it is subjected by the eagle, all combine to render it 

 a favored bird wherever it appears in this country. Its fond- 

 ness for particular localities increases this feeling greatly. 

 "Wilson says that along the Atlantic coast it is frequently as 

 much as a luckless fowler's safety is worth who is detected 

 in shooting the Fish-Hawk. He may congratulate himself 

 on escaping from the rifle of the enraged owner of the prop- 

 erty upon which it has been in the habit of building. 



We give Alexander "Wilson's beautiful welcome to the 

 Fish-Hawk. 



THE FISHERMAN'S HYMN. 



The osprey sails above the sound, 



The geese are gone, the gulls are flying ; 

 The herring shoals swarm thick around, 

 The nets are launch'd, the boats are plying ; 

 Yo ho, my hearts ! let's seek the deep, 



Raise high the song, and cheerly wish her, 

 Still as the bending net we sweep, 



" God bless the fish-hawk and the fisher ! 



She brings us fish she brings us spring, 



Good times, fair weather, warmth and plenty, 

 Fine store of shad, trout, herring, ling, 



Sheepshead and drum, and old woman's dainty ; 

 Yo ho, my hearts ! let's seek the deep, 

 Fly every oar, and cheerly wish her, 

 Still as the bending net we sweep, 



" God bless the fish-hawk and the fisher !" 



She rears her young on yonder tree, 



She leaves her faithful mate to mind 'em ; 

 Like us, for fish, she sails the sea, 



And plunging, shows us where to find 'em ; 

 Yo ho, my hearts ! let's seek the deep, 

 Ply every oar, and cheerly wish her, 

 While the slow bending net we sweep, 

 " God bless the fish-hawk and the fisher 1" 



