FISH-HAWK, OR OSPREY. 



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racity displayed by most other birds of prey, particularly by the 

 Bald Eagle, whose piratical robberies committed on the present 

 species have been already fully detailed in treating of his history. 

 The Hawk, however, in his fishing pursuits, sometimes mistakes 

 his mark, or overrates his strength, by striking fish too large and 

 powerful for him to manage, by whom he is suddenly dragged un- 

 der; and tho he sometimes succeeds in extricating himself, after 

 being taken three or four times down, yet oftener both parties 

 perish. The bodies of sturgeon, and several other large fish, with 

 that of the Fish-Hawk fast grappled in them, have at different times 

 been found dead on the shore cast up by the waves. 



The Fish-Hawk is doubtless the most numerous of all its ge- 

 nus within the United States. It penetrates far into the interior of 

 the country up our large rivers, and their head waters. It may be 

 said to line the sea-coast from Georgia to Canada. In some parts 

 I have counted at one view, more than twenty of their nests within 

 half a mile. Mr. Gardiner informs me, that on the small island 

 on which he resides there are at least " three hundred nests of Fish- 

 Hawks that have young, which, on an average, consume probably 

 not less than six hundred fish daily.'^ Before they depart in the 

 autumn they regularly repair their nests, carrying up sticks, sods, 

 &c. fortifying them against the violence of the winter storms, which, 

 from this circumstance, they would seem to foresee and expect. But, 

 notwithstanding all their precautions, they frequently on their l e- 

 turn in spring find them lying in ruins around the roots of the tree ; 

 and sometimes the tree itself has shared the same fate. When a 

 number of Hawks, to the amount of twenty or upwards, collect to- 

 gether on one tree, making a loud squeeling noise, there is gene- 

 rally a nest built soon after on the same tree. Probably this con- 

 gressional assembly were settling the right of the new pair to the 

 premises; or it might be a kind of wedding, or joyous festive meet- 

 ing on the occasion. They are naturally of a mild and peaceable 

 disposition, living together in great peace and harmony; for tho 

 VOL. v. F 



