416 FISH HAWK. 



is seen to feed them even when they have begun to procure food foi- 

 themselves. ' 



Notwithstanding all these facts, a most erroneous idea prevails among 

 our fishermen, and the farmers along our coasts, that the Fish Hawk's 

 nest is the best scare-crow they can have in the vicinity of their houses or 

 grounds. As these good people affirm, no Hawk will attempt to commit 

 depredations on their poultry, so long as the Fish Hawk remains in the 

 country. But the absence of most birds of prey from those parts at the 

 time when the Fish Hawk is on our coast, arises simply from the neces- 

 sity of retiring to the more sequestered parts of the interior for the pur- 

 pose of rearing their young in security, and the circumstance of their vi- 

 siting the coasts chiefly at the period when myriads of water-fowl resort 

 to our estuaries at the approach of winter, leaving the shores and salt- 

 marshes at the return of spring, when the Fish Hawk arrives. However, 

 as this notion has a tendency to protect the latter bird, it may be so far 

 useful, the fisherman always interposing when he sees a person bent upon 

 .the destruction of his favourite bird. 



The Fish Hawk differs from all birds of prey in another important 

 particular, which is, that it never attempts to secure its prey in the air, 

 although its rapidity of flight might induce an observer to suppose it per- 

 fectly able to do so. I have spent weeks on the Gulf of Mexico, where 

 these birds are numerous, and have observed them sailing and plung- 

 ing into the water, at a time when numerous shoals of flying-fish were 

 emerging from the sea to evade the pursuit of the dolphins. Yet the 

 Fish Hawk never attempted to pursue any of them while above the 

 surface,, but would plunge after one of them or a bonita-fish, after they 

 had resumed their usual mode of swimming near the surface. 



The motions of the Fish Hawk in the air are graceful, and as majes- 

 tic as those of the Eagle. It rises with ease to a great height by exten- 

 sive circlings, performed apparently by mere inclinations of the wings and 

 tail. It dives at times to some distance with the wings partially closed, 

 and resumes its sailing, as if these plunges were made for amusement 

 only. Its wings are extended at right angles to the body, and when thus 

 flying it is easily distinguishable from all other Hawks by the eye of an 

 observer accustomed to note the flight of birds. Whilst in search of food, 

 it flies with easy flappings at a moderate height above the water, and with 

 an apparent listlessness, although in reality it is keenly observing the ob- 

 jects beneath. No sooner does it spy a fish suited to its taste, than it 



