800 
WILD SCENES AND SONG-BIEDS. 
to widely -separated periods, we find now and then promulga- 
ted among all these contradictions a particular biography of 
some certain species or individual that seems to constitute a 
perfect delineation or monograph, which so far as immediate 
science has progressed, cannot be for the time transcended. 
Thus it is with Alexander Wilson's description of this Fish- 
Hawk. Taking it apart, this biography constitutes one of the 
noblest features of his whole life-work, though so mingled as 
it is with his story of the White-headed Eagle^ it yet so fully 
expresses the characteristics of both, that we must give a 
scene entire, which has been most universally admired. It 
is that of the eagle robbing the Fish -Hawk ! and is from his 
paper on the White-headed Eagle : 
" Elevated on the high dead limb of some gigantic tree 
that commands a v*dde view of the neighboring shore and 
ocean, he seems calmly to contemplate the motions of the 
various feathered tribes, that pursue their busy avocations be- 
low; the snow-white gulls slowly winnowing the air; the 
bus}^ tringae coursing along the sands ; trains of ducks 
streaming over the surface — silent and watchful cranes intent 
and w ading ; clamorous crows, and all the winged multitudes 
that subsist by the bounty of this vast liquid magazine of 
not^irj. High over all these hovers one, whose action in- 
stantly arrests his whole attention. By his wide curvature 
of wing, and sudden suspension in air, he knows him to be 
the Fish-Hawk, settling over some devoted victim of the 
deep. His eye kindles at the sight, and, balancing himself 
with half-opened Avings on the branch, he watches the result. 
Down, rapid as an arrow from heaven, descends the distant 
object of his attention, the roar of its wings reaching the ear 
as it disappears in the deep, making the surges foam around. 
At this moment the eager looks of the eagle are all ardor ; 
and levelling 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 
