56 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



WATCHING A FISH HAWK TAKE HIS PREY. 



James E. Goss, Pa. 



EPT. 15th, was an ideal late summer day for the nature lover 

 to take an outing. The writer spent the greater part of the 

 afternoon in a stroll along the banks of the beautiful Nesha- 

 miny Creek. 



All the insects, birds, fish and small animals that arouse the curiosity 

 of the observer were out in full force, particularly the caterpillars, 

 which compelled this particular observer to beat a hasty retreat from 

 the sheltering shade of a clump of bushes that must have been alive 

 with them. 



While resting later on the gnarled projecting stump of a swamp oak 

 on the bank of the creek, the shadow of a huge bird flitted across the 

 surface of the water directly before me. Glancing quickly upward 

 toward the sun, a magnificent Osprey was seen poised in the air as 

 motionless as though he had been stuffed and strung there on wire 

 stretching from the tall trees on either side of the stream. Here was 

 something more than usual to watch and the observer turned his 

 attention from a sunfish in the shallow water to his enemy poised in 

 the air. For five minutes or more this close relative of the king of 

 birds hung almost perfectly still over a portion of the creek possibly 

 two or three feet deep. Its powerful eyes were watching with intense 

 eagerness all that was taking place in the liquid depths below. Sud- 

 denly the big bird quivered and then became instantly more rigid than 

 before, if possible. Then with the seeming quickness of light, it 

 threw its center of gravity forwards, dropping headforemost until it 

 reached the water, which it entered with talons spread to catch its 

 prey. The monster bird was completely submerged and it was several 

 seconds before he re-appeared, dripping from his plunge but bearing, 

 as it were triumphantly, his quarry m his claws. 



Luckily the broad winged hunter had not seen his watcher, who was 

 waiting to see the closing act of this tragedy of nature. The bird flew 

 but a few yards up stream and then alighted upon the bare branch of a 

 white oak to make disposal of his game. The fish which seemed to be 

 a mullet soon disappeared and the hawk flew away. 



