FISH HA WK, OR OS PRE Y.\ ! 05 



creeks, and rivers ; procuring his prey by his own active skill 

 and industry ; and seeming no farther dependent on the land 

 than as a mere resting-place, or, in the usual season, a spot of 

 deposit for his nest, eggs, and young. The figure here given is 



the plunder of others, but labours for itself in the most dexterous man- 

 ner ; and for this, the beautiful adaptation of its form renders every 

 assistance. The body is very strongly built, but is rather of a narrow 

 and elongated shape ; the head is less than the ordinary proportional 

 dimensions ; and the wings are expansive, powerful, and sharp-pointed. 

 The manner of seizing their prey is by soaring above the surface of the 

 sea, or lake, and, when in sight of a fish, closing the wings, and darting, 

 as it were, by the weight of the body, which, in the descent, may be 

 perceived to be directed by the motion of the tail. For this purpose, 

 those parts which we have mentioned are finely framed, and for the 

 remainder of the operation, the legs and feet are no less beautifully 

 modelled. The thighs, instead of being clothed with finely lengthened 

 plumes, as in most of the other falcons, and which, when wet, would 

 prove a great encumbrance, are covered with a thick downy plumage ; 

 the tarsi are short and very strong ; the toes have the same advantages ; 

 and underneath, at the junction of each joint, have a large protuberance, 

 covered, as are the other parts of the sole, with a thick and strong array 

 of hard jagged scales, which are sufficient, by the roughness, to prevent 

 any escape of their slippery prey when it is once fairly clutched ; the 

 claws are also very strong, and hooked, and are round as a cylinder, both 

 above and beneath, which will ensure an easy, piercing, or quick retrac- 

 tion from any body at which they may be struck. The outer toe is also 

 capable of being turned either way — a most essential assistance in 

 grasping. In striking their prey they do not appear to dive deep ; 

 indeed, their feet, by which alone it is taken, could not then be brought 

 into action, but they are often concealed in the spray occasioned by their 

 rapid descent. 



The size of a fish they are able to bear away is very great, and some- 

 times exceeds their own weight. That of the female is little more than 

 five pounds, and Mr Audubon has figured his specimen with a weak fish 

 more than that weight ; while our author mentions a shad that, when 

 partly eaten, weighed more than six pounds. These authenticated 

 accounts lead us almost to credit the more marvellous stories of that 

 amusing sporting writer, Mr Loyd. 



That gentleman relates, that in Sweden the eagle sometimes strikes 

 so large a pike, that not being able to disengage his talons, he is carried 

 under water and drowned. Dr Mullenborg vouched for this, by the fact 

 of having himself seen an enormous pike, with an eagle fastened to his 



