52 
FISH-HAWK, OR OSPREY. 
their daring spirit in this Avay, though the kindness of a friend, resident 
for a few weeks at Great Egg Harbor. I had requested of him the 
favor to transmit me, if possible, a live Fish-Hawk, for the purpose of 
making a drawing of it, which commission he very faithfully executed ; 
and I think I cannot better illustrate this part of the bird's character 
than by quoting his letter at large. 
"Beasley's, Great Egg Harbor, June 30th, 1811. 
" Sir, 
" Mr. Beasley and I went to reconnoitre a Fish-Hawk's nest on 
Thursday afternoon. When I was at the nest I was struck with so great 
A^iolence, on the crown of the hat, that I thought a hole was made in it. 
I had ascended fearlessly, and never dreamt of being attacked. I came 
down quickly. There were in the nest three young ones about the size 
of pullets, which, though full feathered, were unable to fly. On Friday 
morning I went again to the nest to get a young one, which I thought 
I could nurse to a considerable growth, sufficient to answer your purpose, 
if I could fail to procure an old one, which was represented to me as 
almost impossible, on account of his shyness, and the danger from his 
dreadful claws. On taking a young one I intended to lay a couple of 
snares in the nest, for which purpose I had a strong cord in my pocket. 
The old birds were on the tree when Captain H. and I approached it. 
As a defence, profiting by the experience of yesterday, I took a walk- 
ing stick with me. When I was about half up the tree, the bird I send 
you struck at me repeatedly with violence ; he flew round in a small 
circle, darting at me at every circuit, and I striking at him. Observing 
that he always described a circle in the air, before he came at me, I 
kept a hawlts eye upon him, and the moment he passed me, I availed 
myself of the opportunity to ascend. When immediately under the 
nest, I hesitated at the formidable opposition I met, as his rage ap- 
peared to increase with my presumption in invading his premises. But 
I mounted to the nest. At that moment he darted directly at me with 
all his force, whizzing through the air ; his choler apparently redoubled. 
Fortunately for me, I struck him on the extreme joint of the right 
wing with my stick, which brought him to the ground. During this 
contest the female was flying round and round at a respectful distance. 
Captain H. held him till I tied my handkerchief about his legs ; the 
captain felt the efi'ect of his claws. I brought away a young one to 
keep the old one in a good humor. I put them in a very large coop ; 
the young one ate some fish, when broken and put into its throat ; but 
the old one would not eat for two days. He continued sullen and obsti- 
nate, hardly changing his position. He walks about now, and is 
approached without danger ; he takes very little notice of the young 
one. A Joseph Smith, working in the field where this nest is, had the 
