162 NOTES ON NEW ENGLAND BIEDS 



away again, carrying his fish, as before, horizontally 

 beneath his body, and he circles about over the adja- 

 cent pasture like a hawk hunting, though he can only 

 be looking for a suitable place to eat his fish or waiting 

 for us to be gone. 



Looking under the limb on which he was perched, 

 we find a piece of the skin of a sucker (?) or some 

 other scaly fish which a hawk had dropped there long 

 since. No doubt many a fish hawk has taken his meal 

 on that sightly perch. 



It seems, then, that the fish hawk which you see 

 soaring and sailing so leisurely about over the land — 

 for this one soared quite high into the sky at one time 

 — may have a fish in his talons all the while and only 

 be waiting till you are gone for an opportunity to eat it 

 on his accustomed perch. 



Oct. 5, 1860. I see a fish hawk, skimming low over 

 it, 1 suddenly dive or stoop for one of those little fishes 

 that rise to the surface so abundantly at this season. 

 He then sits on a bare limb over the water, ready to 

 swoop down again on his finny prey, presenting, as he 

 sits erect, a long white breast and belly and a white 

 head. No doubt he well knows the habits of these little 

 fishes which dimple the surface of Walden at this sea- 

 son, and I doubt if there is any better fishing-ground 

 for him to resort to. He can easily find a perch over- 

 looking the lake and discern his prey in the clear 

 water. 



[See also under Great Blue Heron, p. 79 ; General 

 and Miscellaneous, p. 418. J 



1 [Walden Pond.] 



