NORTH AMERICA. 



89 



cold ; and thence descend at will to the torrid or the arctic regions. He is therefore found a 

 all seasons in the countries he inhabits, but prefers such places as have been mentioned above, 

 for the great partiality he has for fish. 



" In procuring these, he displays, in a very singular manner, the genius and energy of his 

 character, which is fierce, contemplative, daring, and tyrannical ; attributes not exerted but on 

 particular occasions, but when put forth, overpowering all opposition. Elevated on the high, dead 

 limb of some gigantic tree, that commands a wide view of the neighboring shore and ocean, he 

 seems calmly to contemplate the motions of the various fealhered tribes that pursue their busy 

 avocation below ; the snow-white gulls slowly winnowing the air ; the busy tringse coursing 

 along the sands ; trains of ducks streaming over the surface ; cranes silent and watchful, intent 

 and wading ; clamorous crows, and all the winged multitudes that subsist by the bounty of this 

 vast magazine of nature. 



" High over all these, hovers one, whose action arrests all his attention. By his wide cur- 

 vature of wing, and sudden suspension in the air, he knows him to be the fish-hawk (osprey, 

 F. halmtus^) settling over some devoted victim of the deep. His eye kindles at the sight, and 

 oalancing himself with half opened wings, on the branch, he waits the result. Down, rapid as 

 an arrow from heaven, descends the distant object of his attention, the roar of its wings reach- 

 ing the ear as it disappears in the deep, making the surges foam around. At this moment, the 

 looks of the eagle are all ardor, and, leveling his neck for flight, he sees the fish-hawk once 

 more emerge struggling with his prey, and mounting in the air with screams of exultation. 

 These are the signals for our hero, who, launching into the air, instantly gives chase, and soon 

 gains on the fish-hawk, while each exerts himself to the utmost to mount above the other, dis- 

 playing in these rencontres the most elegant and sublime evolutions. The unincumbered eagle 



rapidly advances, and is just on the point of reaching his 

 opponent, when, with a sudden scream, probably of de- 

 spair and honest execration, he drops the fish. The eagle, 

 poising himself for a moment, as if to take a more certain 

 aim, descends like a whirlwind, snatches it in his grasp ere 

 it reaches the water, and bears his ill-gotten booty silently 

 away to the woods." The Sea Eagle (F. ossifragus) is 

 also common in the Middle States, as in other parts of the 

 country. In his habits, he resembles the Bald Eagle. 



The Washington Eagle (F. Washingtonianus) is seldom 

 or never seen except in the Western States. It resembles 

 pretty nearly the great sea-eagle described by Wilson, and 

 well known by naturalists in Europe and America. The 

 male bird weighs pounds, and measures 3 feet and 7 

 inches in length, and 10 feet and 2 inches in extent. The 

 Condor is found among the Rocky Mountains, but it will 

 be more appropriately described under South America, as 

 the Andes seem to be its peculiar home. 



The Sparrow Hawk (F. sparvcrius) is found in various 

 parts of the United States. It builds its nest in a hollow 

 tree, pretty high up, where a large limb has been broken 

 off. The habits and manners of this bird are well known 

 It flies rather irregularly. It perches on the top of a dead 

 tree or pole in the middle of a field ; and sits there in an 

 almost perpendicular position sometimes for an hour at a 

 time, frequently jerking its tail, and reconnoitring the ground 

 below, in every direction, for mice and lizards, &c. It ap- 

 proaches the farm house particularly in the morning, skulk- 

 ing about the barn yard for mice or young chickens. It 

 frequently plunges into a thicket after small birds, as if at 

 random, but always whh a particular and generally a fatal 

 aim. Though small snakes, mice and lizards be favorite 

 morsels with this active bird, yet we are not to suppose it 

 altogether destitute of delicacy in feeding. It will seldom 



Washington Eagle. 



The Sparrow Hawk. 



