Species VI. FALCO HALI^TUS. 
FISH-HAWK, OR OSPREY. 
[Plate XXXVII. Fig. 1.] 
Carolina Osprey, Lath. Sijn. i., p. 46, No. 2G, A. — Falco Piscator, Briss. i., p. 36], 
No. 14; 362, No. 15. — Faueon j^echeur de la Caroline, Buff, i., p. 142. — Fishing 
Hawk, Catesb. Car. i., p. 2. — Falco Carolinensis, Gmel. Syst. i., p. 263, No. 26.* 
This formidable, vigorous-winged, and -vvcll-known bird subsists 
altogether on the finny tribes that swarm in our bays, creeks, and rivers ; 
procuring his prey by his own active skill and industry ; and seeming 
no farther dependent on the land than as a mere resting-place, or in the 
usual season, a spot of deposit for his nest, eggs and young. The 
figure here given is reduced to one-third the size of life, to correspond 
with that of the Bald Eagle, his common attendant, and constant plun- 
derer. 
The Fish-IIawk is migratory ; arriving on the coasts of New York 
and New Jersey about the twenty-first of March, and retiring to the 
south about the twenty-second of September. Heavy equinoctial storms 
may vary these periods of arrival and departure a few days ; but long 
observation has ascertained, that they are kept with remarkable regu- 
lai'ity. On the arrival of these birds in the northern parts of the 
United States, in March, they sometimes find the bays and ponds frozen, 
and experience a dilEculty in procuring fish for many days. Yet there 
is no instance on record of their attacking birds, or inferior land animals, 
with intent to feed upon them ; though their great strength of flight, 
as Avell as of feet and claws, would seem to render this no difficult matter. 
But they no sooner arrive, than they wage war on the Bald Eagles, as 
against a horde of robbers and banditti ; sometimes succeeding, by force 
of numbers and perseverance, in driving them from their haunts ; but 
seldom or never attacking them in single combat. 
The first appearance of the Fish-IIawk in spring, is welcomed by 
the fishermen, as a happy signal of the approach of those vast shoals 
of herring, shad, &c. &c., that regularly arrive on our coasts, and enter 
our rivers in such prodigious multitudes. Two of a trade, it is said, 
seldom agree ; the adage, hoAvever, will not hold good in the present 
case, for such is the respect paid the Fish-Hawk not only by this class 
* The following synonymes may be added : Le Balbuzard, Buff. PI. Enl. 414. 
Aquila piscatrix, Vieillot, Ois. de I'Am. Sept. v. i., p. 29, pi. 4. 
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