4 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[juLY 7, 1906. 
eastern Rhode Island headlands a Mr. Anthony tells of 
an incident that happened twenty years ago near his home. 
A male iishhawk was brought to the ground by a gun in 
the hands of a boj'. Mr. Anthony cared for the wounded 
bird in his barn, picking out grains of shot and stopping 
the flow of blood. All the time the hawk fought him 
with its rminjured wing. In a month's time the wound 
had completely healed and the bird had becoAie quite 
tame. It would not eat anything but fish, however. The 
wounded wing Avas stifl when the bird was given its free- 
dom, and the peculiarity of this stiff wing is noted every 
season by Mr. Anthony in a bird that locates near his 
home. He is confident that it is the bird that was wound- 
ed near his home twenty years ago. 
People often wonder why fish-hawks do not increase in 
numbers more than they do. There are from three to 
five young in the nests each season, yet only the same 
number of hawks hatch year after j-ear. The laying of 
the eggs begins about the latter part of April or the first 
of May. The period of incubation is a month. The male 
then is on almost constant watch about the nest. The 
female sometimes goes to the water to catch fish during 
this period. While incubation is going on the nest of the 
hawk is never witliout the presence of either male or 
female, and if a bird of another species of any size ap- 
pears the fish-hawk becomes excited and utters shrill 
piercing cries until the stranger disappears. To all ap- 
pearances the fish-hawks regard the crow as a common 
robber. Long familiaritj' with the bird of sable plumes 
has taught them to be on guard continuously during the 
period of hatching. Woe betide the eggs of the unwary 
hawk that leaves its nest without a watcher. The com- 
mon crow will quickly discover the OA^ersight, and when 
the hawk returns to its nest it is only to find a few pieces 
of broken egg shells, the crows having made a meal on 
the contents. 
The watchfulness of the fish-hawks over their nests be- 
fore the young leave the shell is a great boon to other 
smaller birds. A singular trait in the character of the 
osprey is its toleration of sparrows, crow-blackbirds- and 
grackles to build their nests in among the outer sticks 
of which its own nest is constructed. Like vassals to a 
chief, these smaller birds lay eggs and hatch them in per- 
fect security, and in mutual harmony with the larger feath- 
ered creatures. Often there are from twenty to thirty 
nests of small birds in the rounded outer sides of the 
fish-hawk's nest. From long acquaintance with the fish- 
hawk the sparrows and crow-blackbirds have no fear of 
them, and they have learned that as the fish-hawk during 
incubation constantly is on guard, their nests are doubly 
secure from feathered intruders and from the inroads of 
the common crow, the bird that they most fear when 
their nests contain eggs. 
When the young fish-hawks come forth from the shell 
the constant guard of the nest by male and female is 
.gradually relaxed. The female leaves the nest at inter- 
vals in quest of food, soon fijnng back with a fish caught 
in harbor or bay. A noticeable feature about the mother 
hawk is her mode of feeding the young. Returning with 
a shad or porgie when the young are only a few days old, 
the mother bird tears the fish in pieces with her claws 
and bill, giving a strip to each young bird. When the 
birds become a week old or about that age and there- 
after during the season a whole fish is given to each 
young fish-hawk by its mother. It is interesting to watch 
the young hawks when they are fed. They will cry for 
food when hungry, but, unlike the progeny of all other 
feathered tribes and 'land animals they will not fight for 
food. The mother bird selects the young one to which 
she will give a fish. The rest of them remain sitting be- 
side their more fortunate companion in the nest, bitt 
beyond uttering plaintive cries make no effort to get 
part of the fish for themselves, simply waiting in patience 
until their turn comes, which circumstances may prolong 
for quite a length of time. The young birds catch no fish 
the first year of their lives. Their food is procured by the 
parents. As soon as the young brood become a few weeks 
old the mother throws off quite a piece of the top of the 
nest to the ground. This enables the young to see their 
surroundings, and less obstacles are in the way when they 
first make attempt to fly. 
The young birds do not take readily to flight. They 
are fullv feathered and yet make no attempt to leave the 
nest. Generally their initial attempts to rise on wing are 
be"-un about July 10. Flying up froin the nest, they fall 
back upon it again from a height of about 5 feet. They 
make attempts in turn, with like results. The young 
hawks are very timid about flying away from the nests, 
and it devolves upon the parents to drive the young forci- 
bly off in order that they can fly. Great is the screeching 
and loud are .the cries of the birds on such occasions. 
At last one of the young hawks will make an attempt to 
reach an object 50 yards away from the nest. These 
efforts are generally awkward, and it is not uncommon 
to see the fledgling tumble in somersaults earthward. 
The mother hawk, ever on the alert, rushes to its rescue, 
and shooting under the young bird catches it on its back 
and wings before it tumbles to the ground. 
Nearly everywhere on the waters of Narragansett 
Bay in the summer season the osprey or fish-hawk can 
be seen seeking its prey. An industrious fisher, it com- 
mands the attention of fishermen in various ways. Rising 
front its roost, it sallies forth toward the water with a 
keen eye to business, and soaring above the waters of 
bflv and harbor until it is directly over a locality where 
fish are plenty, it circles about with wings in easy 
mot-on at a he-ght of from 100 to 125 feet. Occasionally 
it makes a sharp turn and retraces its course with legs 
at an angle of 45 degrees down from the body. Its eves 
are constantly reconnoitering the waters below. This 
peculiaritv of the bird is essentially the same as is 
adopted by men engaged in the menhaden fishery all 
along the Atlantic coast. It is a well-known fact that the 
presence of fish can be discovered near the surface of 
the water quicker at a height of say 35 feet than 
they can be from the deck of a fishing vessel on an 
average of only 5 and 6 feet above the water's ede-e. In a 
crew of a menhaden or porgie catcher two of the num- 
ber, usually the skipner and the mate, go aloft on the 
inast. and taking position at the crosstrees peer out over 
the water in quest of fish. This gives them a better op- 
portunitv to discover a school of fish at their lofty post 
ihnn if they were much nearer the water. _ In like rnan- 
ner the fish-hawk has an advantageous position. Soaring 
about on easy wing, he suddenly checks his progress, and 
like a good fisherman surveys with interest the surface 
of the water. The fixed gaze on an object is accom- 
panied by a rqpid flapping of his wings in order that he 
may hold the desired position, and not be shifted from it 
by the wind. Suddenly the wings are folded close to the 
body, and he shoots downward at lightning speed, eyes 
still fixed on his prey. Sometimes his wings are sud- 
denly oper.ed out in the downward rush, checking prog- 
ress, because of the disappearance of the fish he is seek- 
mg. Up again he mounts into space in quest of another 
fish. Soon the bird again closes wings and down he 
goes from his aerial height like a cannon ball, and plun- 
ging into the water with a roaring sotmd, dashing the 
spray aside in torrents and kicking up small waves, he 
fastens his claws in the back of the fish. In a minute 
or so he emerges from his self-made vortex, rising grad- 
ually on wing with a struggling and flapping fish clutched 
in his formidable claws. He invariably catches a fish 
head on — that is, pointed in the same direction as his own. 
Sometimes in his forays upon the finny tribe he "misses 
fire." Fishermen in Narragansett Bay call it a "stab." 
When he triumphantly carries ofl: his prey the fishertnen 
appear to be more satisfied, remarking, "He has taken 
that which he came after," and is "sailing home." There 
is more substance in this latter remark than actually ap- 
pears on -the surface. The hawk adapts itself to all cir- 
cumstances as regards wind and weather in catching and 
carrying off fish. If the wind is fair for the fish-hawk in 
its course to its haunts on the land with a flapping fish 
so far so good; but if it is blowing a strong breeze from 
dead ahead it is interesting to watch the bird's manettver. 
He adopts the tactics of a sailor, aiid instead of flying 
directly home on the land in the Avind's eye "beats to 
windward" usually by even "legs," but sometimes by 
alternative "long and short legs." His form and wings 
are shaped in a measure to meet these contingencies. 
With a heavy fish he can make comparatively easy work 
in this manner. 
As a rule, when seeking his prey he works up agaiiist 
the wind until he fastens to a fish, and then, loaded with 
the prey, he has a fair wind on the flight to the roost. 
There have been occasions when a fish wriggled itself 
loose from the claws of the hawk and dropped to the 
ground. The bird never deigns an attempt to recover it 
from the ground, but sets out for another fish. I have 
seen a fish drop from the bird's claws, but by its dexterity 
on the wing the bird caught the fish again before it could 
touch earth or water. 
There have been instances in Narragansett Bay where 
the fish-hawk overrated its strength — has fastened to a 
fish that has pulled it under water. In such instances 
the hawk would withdraw its talons and rise out of the 
water, appearing somewhat exhausted. The usual prey 
in Narragansett Bay, however, consists of flounders, 
porgies, scup, weakfish, and sometimes bluefi.sh and shad. 
A fish Aveighing from 4 to 5 pounds is the average weight 
captured. 
.A.nother trait of the fish-haAvk Avhen .seeking prey is to 
take position on the top of one of the Avooden stakes 
surrounding a fish pond or heart net, many of which are 
maintained in the east and west branches of Narragansett 
Bay. Here they are perched patiently, often for an 
hour without moving, waiting for a fish to appear near 
the surface, when they dive and fasten to it with their 
claAvs. 
The base of a tree or pole in which is located a fish- 
hawk's nest is a rendezvous for house cats, small wild 
animals and birds, all flocking there to pick up particles 
of fish dropped by the hawks. The backbone is always 
thrown cut of the nest and drops to the ground, Avith 
particles clinging to it. 
The tree or pole on Avhich is a nest is the fainily head- 
quarters until the birds take their departure. This is 
usually about Sept. 10. People residing near a family of 
fish-hawks know when they are about to take their de- 
parture south. On the morning of the day the parents 
bring to the nest quite a quantity of fish. The old feed 
the young, and there is a grand feast all round. All the 
time" this is going on the birds keep up an unusual 
screeching and chattering noise. The old birds examine 
the nest, and with fresh sticks repair it, so that it can 
withstand the storms of winter. At a signal given by the 
male bird, usually in the afternoon of the day of de- 
parture, the birds rise in the air, and issuing their peculiar 
noise head a course for southern latitudes. They rise to 
a height of between 200 and 300 feet in the air, and usually 
folloAV the coast line in their passage to a warmer climate. 
The laws of Rhode Island are to the effect that if any 
person or persons are caught disturbing fish-hawks' nests, 
or having been convicted of shooting a fish-hawk, the fine 
shall be $20 and costs, or imprisonment. One-half the 
fine is paid to the oAvner of the land where the damage 
is done. Every one keeps a sharp watch to see that fish- 
haAvks are uirmolested. 
Not more than two years ago a Providence sportsman 
gunning near the mouth of Kickemuit River climbed to a 
fish-hawk's nest and removed the eggs. He had previous- 
ly fired at the mother hawk, but missed. When he came 
doAvn from the tree he was confronted by the owner of 
the land and no other than Bird Commissioner Thayer. 
From what the sporting man said, it was evident that he 
Avas ignorant as to the law regarding fish-hawks. He was 
arrested and fined heavily. ; _ 
A year ago some two men came over the line from 
Massachusetts, and unwittingly shot and killed a female 
fish-hawk on the same farm. They Avere arrested, and 
the man who killed the bird acknoAvledging it AA^as fined 
$20 and costs. It was evident that they were totally un- 
aAvare of the penalty for such depredations. Singular 
enough the male bird, mate of the one that Avas shot, went 
away, and Avas not seen for tAvo days. He appeared with a 
new" mate that set to work feeding the young and tending 
to them as though she was their natural mother, until 
they departed for the south in the autumn. People who 
watched this interesting proceeding say that the young 
hawks were well cared for. 
One Sunday afternoon nearly about the sarne time it 
appeared that three young men were seen robbing a fish- 
haAvk's nest in Bristol, but near the boundary of Warren. 
The police were called, and as.sisted by several enraged 
citizens in carriages the chase led through Warren, four 
nfl^es distant, and there the trail was lost It proved 
afterAvard that the nest robbers landed in a sailboat on the 
shores of Warren and htirriedly departed from the same 
place in their boat. The above is a list of disturbances 
to fish-hawks in eastern Rhode Island covering a period 
of many years. 
On the first appearance of the fish-hawk in Rhode 
Island in the spring it has bright and dapper plumage, the 
legs, feet and claws are . perfect in form, looking neat to 
the eye. But as the season advances the color of the 
feathers is not so bright and clear, while the feet and 
claAvs are marred. This change in appearance is due to 
the rough work in fishing and caring for the young. 
Sometimes the hawks indulge in singular antics at a 
great height in the air, describing all manner of angles 
and curves, in a flock, one of them occasionally dropping 
through the air several hundred feet with a rapid rush. 
All the time they keep up a peculiar shrieking noise, 
which is almost impossible to imitate. Fishermen re- 
gard these antics as an indication that there is soon to 
be a change in the weather. 
The fish-hawk is 22 inches in length, and the female is 
2 inches longer than the male. The bill is a deep black, 
and the upper as Avell as the lower cere, and also the 
sides of the mouth from the nostrils backward, are lighi 
blue. The crest and back of the head are nearly pure 
white. The breast is white, with streaks of light brown, 
giving it the appearance of a sih'^er color from a short 
distance away. The Avings and part of the neck 
are deep brown, although the edges of the feath- 
ers are lighter. The tail is slightly rounded, and 
is of a paler brown than the wings, crossed with 
alternate bars of dark brown. When the wings are 
shut they extend an inch or two beyond the tail. The 
lower parts are Avhite. The thighs are covered with short 
plumage, with a pale brown color in front. The legs and 
feet are very strong, and remarkably large, and of a light 
blue color. They are coA-^ered Avith flat scales strong and 
thick, suggesting a coarse rasp, particularly on the soles 
of the feet, .enabling the bird with more security to seize 
and hold its slippery prey. The claws are large for a 
bird of the size of the fish-hawk. The claws describe 
semicircular curves, finely formed and as sharp-pointed 
as a new fish-hook. The toes are exceedingly strong 
and warty, and the hind claw is fully an inch and a quarter 
in diameter. The outer toe is capable of being turned 
either AA'ay, which is a great aid in grasping. 
• Observer. 
Voices of the Gathering Night. 
Prospect Park. 
It is the hour "when daylight dies/' and the park is 
deserted save for an occasional belated workman, Avho 
plods his weary way homeward. The Avoods are in the 
full flush of spring, massed in voluptuous beauty on all 
sides, and the grass is of that fresh green vivid aspect 
Avhich possesses one with a sense of perennial youth. 
Looking about one can imagine that he is buried in the 
depths of the country — not a house visible and all the 
harsh noises of the city hushed. At first, indeed, it seems 
that the stillness is absolute and the lines of Gray's im- 
mortal elegy come into memory: 
Now fades the gHmmering landscape on the sight, 
And all the air a solemn stillness holds. 
But gradually as we become accustomed to our new 
environment (the transition to which has been so abrupt) 
we begin to hear sounds of birds and other animal life, 
the which, hoAvever, harmonize so perfectly wi:h the 
rural peace that instead of disturbing they seem to 
accentuate it. Here as we walk down the Long Meadow 
a sharp succession of cries like "Tchick ! Tchick! 
Tchick!" (how impossible to render bird notes in type!) 
comes from the woods on our left. It is the robin calling 
to his mate. See, there he flies, with another sharp suc- 
cession of cries, like "Szee! Szee ! Szee !" from the 
floAvering chestnut to the dense thicket yonder. In that 
thicket more than probably is his newly constructed 
nest, and there he will be joined by madame. Merula 
■migraiorms is a very noisy bird about bedtime, but 
sometimes in the midst of his strident "Tchick! Tchick! 
Tchick !" he will break into a soft warble, which is more 
soothing to the ear than "the lisp of leaves and the ripple 
of rain." There is a strong resemblance, by the way, be- 
tween the song of the English thrush and that of .tlie 
American robin, so called, which shows their ; relation- ^ 
ship, though the former song is much more powerful at)(| 
sustained than the latter. . ■ , . ■ 
Well, here Ave've reached Swan LakiS; ./^im its 
little peninsula covered Avith bushes, where the_ blue;- 
birds love to build. And, hark! There is one of them 
mewing anxiously like a kitten. "What, I anxious?" says 
Silvia sialis, as if divining our thought, and straightway 
begins to fill the air with rippling, joyous melody. But 
what villainous discord is that? It is the screech or the 
squawk or the mingling of both of the peacock, Juno's 
lovely bird. Hoav nature balances herself! To one bird — 
the nightingale — she gives a mean drab exterior and a 
voice to enchant; to another — the peacock — she gives an 
exterior the most resplendent and a voice to shatter the 
nerves. 
This is the Glen, where the overarching trees make a 
twilight at midday and a Cimmerian gloom at night, and 
where later on the owls will flit and utter their ghostly 
intonations. Now it echoes with the lay of America's 
songster par excellence — the little speckled wood thrush., 
He is perched AA^here none can see him in the deep recesses 
of the woods, and all unconscious or careless Avhether any 
one hears him, except his mate. Proud and happy mate 
to excite such melody! I have heard the song o£ the 
nightingale, and, of course, that is incomparable, but 
after that I Avould be disposed to place the song of the 
American wood thrush in order of merit, coupling with it 
the song of the English lark. There is no resemblance 
of form, however, implied by this comparison; but as the 
one song charms by its \'-erve, its sincerity and soulful- 
ness, so does the other. He who can listen to the wood 
thrush and remain uncharmed or untouched must be, I 
Avill not say Avith Shakespeare, "fit for treasons, strate- 
geras and spoils," but fit. at least, to be ^incerelv r>^'-i°d. 
How the notes echo through the glen and the leafy 
ai'iles of the Avoods, rising and falling, between little inter- 
hides of silence, with all the calm of true art. Avith all 
the liquid purity of tone, with all— but, pshaw ! Where- 
fore attempt to describe them? There are some things 
