DTlTRNAIi BIRDS OF FRET. 



21 !i 



It resides near water, especially large rivers and lakes ; and 

 it fcp-is principally on fish, which it catches with much greater 

 eagerness than the keen and patient angler. It pounces on its 

 prey with astonishing rapidity, sometimes actually plunging two 

 feet under the surface of the water, when it successfully seizes 

 and carries off its prey to some distance, where it feasts at leisure 

 with greater delight than the most skilful epicure. In the hatch- 

 ing season, it is frequently seen about the lakes of Killaruey, in 

 Ireland. It is to be mot with in most of the countries of Europe, 

 even from Sweden to G-reece. Travellers have seen it in Egypt, 

 Nigritia, Barbary, and Louisiana. In the spring and summer 

 months it is often seen hovering in solemn majesty over the large' 

 American rivers for several minutes at one time, resting on the 

 wing as motionless, when it darts down in a moment, dives into 



