52 FISH-HAWK, OR OSPREY. 



their daring spirit in this way, though the kindness of a friend, resident 

 for a few weeks at Great Egg Harbor. I had requested of him the 

 favor to transmit me, if possible, a live Fish-Hawk, for the purpose of 

 making a drawing of it, which commission he very faithfully executed ; 

 and I think I cannot better illustrate this part of the bird's character 

 than by quoting his letter at large. 



" Beaslet's, Great Egg Harbor, June 30th, 1811. 



" Sir, 



" Mr. Beasley and I went to reconnoitre a Fish-Hawk's nest on 

 Thursday afternoon. When I was at the nest I was struck with so great 

 violence, on the crown of the hat, that I thought a hole was made in it. 

 I had ascended fearlessly, and never dreamt of being attacked. I came 

 down quickly. There were in the nest three young ones about the size 

 of pullets, which, though full feathered, were unable to fly. Oh Friday 

 morning I went again to the nest to get a young one, which I thought 

 I could nurse to a considerable growth, sufficient to answer your purpose, 

 if I could fail to procure an old one, which was represented to me as 

 almost impossible, on account of his shyness, and the danger from his 

 dreadful claws. On taking a young one I intended to lay a couple of 

 snares in the nest, for which purpose I had a strong cord in my pocket. 

 The old birds were on the tree when Captain H. and I approached it. 

 As a defence, profiting by the experience of yesterday, I took a walk- 

 ing stick with me. When I was about half up the tree, the bird I send 

 you struck at me repeatedly with violence ; he flew round in a small 

 circle, darting at me at every circuit, and I striking at him. Observing 

 that he always described a circle in the air, before he came at me, I 

 kept a hawk's eye upon him, and the moment he passed me, I availed 

 myself of the opportunity to ascend. When immediately under the 

 nest, I hesitated at the formidable opposition I met, as his rage ap- 

 peared to increase with my presumption in invading his premises. But 

 I mounted to the nest. At that moment he darted directly at me with 

 all his force, whizzing through the air ; his choler apparently redoubled. 

 Fortunately for me, I struck him on the extreme joint of the right 

 wing with my stick, which brought him to the ground. During this 

 contest the female was flying round and round at a respectful distance. 

 Captain H. held him till I tied my handkerchief about his legs ; the 

 captain felt the efl"ect of his (jlaws. I brought away a young one to 

 keep the old one in a good humor. I put them in a very large coop ; 

 the young one ate some fish, when broken and put into its throat ; but 

 the old one would not eat for two days. He continued sullen and obsti- 

 nate, hardly changing his position. He walks about now, and is 

 approached without danger ; he takes very little notice of the young 

 one. A Joseph Smith, working in the field where this nest is, had the 



