FISH HAWK, OR OSPREY. 337 
prospect; and our trees have not afforded a convenient site for one of 
their habitations since.” 
About the first of May, the female Fish Hawk begins to lay her 
eggs, which are commonly three in number, sometimes only two, and 
rarely four. They are somewhat larger than those of the common Hen, 
and nearly of the same shape. The ground color varies, in different 
eggs, from a reddish cream, to nearly a white, splashed and daubed 
all over with dark Spanish brown, as if done by art.* During the time 
the female is sitting, the male frequently supplies her with fish; though 
she occasionally takes a short circuit to sea herself, but quickly returns 
again. The attention of the male, on such occasions, is regulated by 
the circumstances of the case. A pair of these birds, on the south 
side of Great Egg Harbor River, and near its mouth, was noted for 
several years. The female, having but one leg, was ‘regularly fur- 
nished, while sitting, with fish in such abundance, that she seldom left 
the nest, and never to seek for food. ‘This kindness was continued 
both before and after incubation. Some animals, who claim the name 
and rationality of man, might blush at the recital of this fact. 
On the appearance of the young, which is usually about the last of 
June, the zeal and watchfulness of the parents are extreme. They 
stand guard, and go off to fish, alternately; one parent being always 
within a short distance of the nest. On the near approach of any 
person, the Hawk utters a plaintive whistling note, which becomes 
shriller as she takes to wing, and sails around, sometimes making a 
rapid descent, as if aiming directly for you; but checking her course, 
and sweeping past, at a short distance over head, her wings making a 
loud whizzing in the air. My worthy friend Mr. Gardiner informs me, 
that they have even been known to fix their claws in a negro’s head, 
who was attempting to climb to their nest; and [ had lately a proof 
of their daring spirit in this way, through 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 faith- 
fully executed; and I think I cannot better illustrate this part of the 
bird’s character, than by quoting’ his letter at large : — 
“ Beasley's, Great Egg Harbor, 30th June, 1811. 
« Srr, — 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 
* Of the palatableness of these eggs I cannot speak from personal experience ; 
but the following incident will show that the experiment has actually been made : — 
A country fellow, near Cape May, on his way to a neighboring tavern, passing a 
tree, on which was a Fish Hawk’s nest, immediately mounted, and robbed it of the 
only egg it contained, which he carried with him to the tavern, and desired the 
landlord to make it into egg-nogg. The tavern keeper, after a few wry faces, com- 
plied with his request, and the fellow swallowed the cordial. Whether from its ef- 
fects on the olfactory nerves, (for de said it smelt abominably,) on the imagination, 
or on the stomach alone, is uncertain, but it operated as a most outrageous emetic, 
and cured the man, for that time at least, of his thirst for egg-nogg. What is rather 
extraordinary, the landlord (Mr. Beasley) assured me, that, to all appearance, the 
egg was perfectly fresh. 
