FISH-HAWK, OR OSPREY 



19 



The young of the Fish-Hawk are remarkable for remaining 

 long in the nest before they attempt to fly. Mr. Smith's letter is 

 dated June 30th, at which time, he observes, they were as large 

 as pullets, and full feathered. Seventeen days after, I myself as- 

 cended to this same Hawk's nest, where I found the two remaining 

 young ones seemingly full grown. They made no attempts to fly, 

 though they both placed themselves in a stern posture of defence 

 as I examined them at my leisure. The female had procured a 

 second helpmate ; but he did not seem to inherit the spirit of his 

 predecessor, for like a true step-father, he left the nest at my ap- 

 proach, and sailed about at a safe distance with his mate, who shew- 

 ed great anxiety and distress during the whole of my visit. It is 

 universally asserted by the people of the neighbourhood where these 

 birds breed, that the young remain so long, before they fly, that the 

 parents are obliged at last to compel them to shift for themselves, 

 beating them with their wings, and driving them from the nest. 

 But that they continue to assist them even after this, I know to be 

 a fact from my own observation, as I have seen the young bird 

 meet its parent in the air, and receive from him the fish he carried 

 in his claws. 



The flight of the Fish-Hawk, his manoeuvres while in search 

 of fish, and his manner of seizing his prey, are deserving of parti- 

 cular notice. In leaving the nest he usually flies direct till he comes 

 to the sea, then sails around, in easy curving lines, turning some- 

 times in the air as on a pivot, apparently without the least exertion, 

 rarely moving the wings, his legs extended in a straight line behind, 

 and his remarkable length and curvature or bend of wing, distin- 

 guishing him from all other Hawks. The height at which he thus 

 elegantly glides is various, from one hundred to one hundred and 

 fifty, and two hundred feet, sometimes much higher, all the while 

 calmly reconnoitring the face of the deep below. Suddenly he 

 is seen to check his course, as if struck by a particular object, 

 which he seems to survey for a few moments with such steadiness 



