432 BIRDS — FALCONIDJS. 



Habitat, Cosmopolitan. The American and Australian, respectively, nnder names of 

 P. carulinensis and P. leucocephalus, have been currently regarded as distinct races or 

 species. 



Common summer resident in many portions of the State, rare in others. 

 Mr. Kirkpatrick says of it : 



" The Fish Hawk is widely distributed over the whole country, and at one time was 

 quite plentiful in Ohio. When Dr. Kirtland resided at Poland, Mahoning county, these 

 birds built their nests in the vicinity of the village, and could be seen every day during 

 the sammer season. Now they are rare. A few pairs are generally to be found fishing 

 in Sandusky Bay ; but they are somewhat sh>y, aud it is difficult to get a shot at them. 

 Occasionally a speimen will make its appearance near the shore of the Lake near Cleve- 

 land. The last we saw of them was about ten years eince, althoug«h others have seen ia- 

 dividaals more recently. We are not aware that this Hawk breeds near this place; but 

 in the less frequented parts of our State, and in the neighboihood of water, the nests may 

 sometimes be seen." 



In this immediate vicinity the Fish Hawk appears only as a spring 

 and fall migrant in May, August and September. At such times it pro- 

 ceeds leisurely along our rivers. I have observed it at the Licking 

 Reservoir, in the vicinity of which it doubtless breeds, as also at St. 

 Mary's Reservoir in Mercer county. 



The food of this bird consists exclusively of fish, and, as is well known, 

 it is often obliged to catch, not only for itself and family, but for the 

 White-headed Eagle. 



The nest of the Fish Hawk is a large structure occupied by it for sev- 

 eral years. The eggs are creamy-white marked with various shades of 

 brown ; the complement is from two to four, and they measure from 2.56 

 to 2.24 by 1.88 to 1.69. 



Genus AQUILA. Auctornm. 



Size large. Bill compressed, hooked at tip, straight at the base, wing long, pointed ; 

 tarsi strong, feathered to the toes. 



Aquila cheysaetus Linnseus. 



O-olden ICagle. 

 Falco fulvua, Kiktlahd, Ohio Geolog. Surv., 1858, 67, 177. — Bead, Fam. Visitor, iii, 1852, 



236. 

 Falco chrysaetud, Kxad, Proc. Phila. Acad. Nat. Sci , yi, 1853, 395. 

 Aquila ohryeaeto), Kikkpatrick, Ohio Farmer, vii, 1858, 67 ; Ohio Agile. Kep. for 1858, 



1859, 362. 

 Aquila canadensis, Whbaton, Ohio Agrio. Hep. for 1860, 361 ; Reprint, 1861, 3. 

 Aquila chryaaetua Whkaton, Food of Birds, etc., Ohio Agrio. Rep. for 1874, 570 ; Reprint, 



1875, 10. 

 Aquila chryacetuB, Lamgdon, Cat. Birds of Cin., 1877, 13. 



