806 
WILD SCENES AND SONG-BIEDS, 
lations, its coming always as the harbinger of spring and 
fresh abundance in the teeming waters, the persecutions to 
which it is subjected by the eagle, all combine to render it 
a favored bird wherever it appears in this country. Its fond- 
ness for particular localities increases this feeling greatly. 
WHson says that along the Atlantic coast it is frequently as 
much as a luckless fowler's safety is worth who is detected 
in shooting the Fish-Hawk. He may congratulate himself 
on escaping from the rifle of the enraged owner of the prop- 
erty upon which it has been in the habit of building. 
We give Alexander Wilson's beautiful welcome to the 
Fish-Hawk. 
THE FISHERMAN'S HYMN. 
The osprey sails above the sound, 
The geese are gone, the gulls are flying ; 
The herring shoals swarm thick around, 
The nets are launch'd, the boats are plying ; 
Yo ho, niy hearts ! let's seek the deep. 
Raise high the song, and clieerly wish her, 
>Still as the bending net we sweep, 
"God bless the fish-hawk and the fisher! 
She brings us fish — she brings us spring. 
Good times, fair weather, warmth and plenty, 
Fine store of shad, trout, herring, ling, 
Sheepshead and drum, and old woman's dainty ; 
Yo ho, my hearts ! let's seek the deep. 
Fly every oar, and cheerly wish her, 
Still as the bending net we sweep, 
" God bless the fish-hawk and the fisher !" 
She rears her young on yonder tree, 
She leaves her faithful mate to mind 'em ; 
Like us, for fish, she sails the sea. 
And plunging, shows us where to find 'em ; 
Yo ho, my hearts ! let's seek the deep. 
Ply every oar, and cheerly wish her. 
While the slow bending net we sweep, 
" God bless the fish-hawk and the fisher !" 
