nr 
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76 Mr. Peabody on the 
often a victim to the rapacity of the eagle just des- 
cribed, is an interesting and harmless bird, which 
confines itself industriously to its employment of 
fishing, never attacking other birds nor land ani- 
mals, though it has great strength of flight and of 
talons, and though it sometimes arrives in the spring, | 
when the bays and ponds are frozen and its food is 
difficult to be procured. It has no controversy with 
any bird except the eagle, and that warfare must 
be regarded as defensive; no single hawk is able to 
encounter the enemy, but, by joining their forces, 
they become too strong to be resisted. 
The fish-hawk is on excellent terms with the 
fishermen, though they are of the same trade. Its 
coming’ announces the arrival of the shoals of fish 
that crowd our rivers in the spring. Perhaps its 
exemption from persecution may be owing also to 
its well known gentleness of disposition. Unlike 
other birds of prey, the fish-hawks are social and 
friendly to each other. They come to us in flocks 
of eight or ten, who build near each other, and rear 
their young in perfect harmony, and this spirit of 
hospitality and kindness is extended to other birds 
that seem to have no claim upon them. The crow 
blackbirds are permitted to shelter in the inter- 
Stices of their nests, which are huge constructions, 
made of a cartload of heavy materials firmly matted 
together. 'The notion that the fish-hawk protects 
the domestic poultry from other hawks is without 
foundation, since it never interferes with the pur- 
suits of any bird whatever; It is well, however, 
that the impression should exist, for if not wcll 
i 
ty 
* 
e —ÀÓ— mrs 
