FISn-IIAWK, OR OSPREY. 
57 
mer, as far north as Siberia ; the Bald Buzzard of Turton almost exactly 
agreeing with the present species in size, color, and manners, with the 
exception of its breeding or making its nest among the reeds, instead of 
on trees. Mr. Bewick, who has figured and described the female of this 
bird, under the appellation of the " Osprey," says, " that it builds on 
the ground, among reeds, and lays three or four eggs of an elliptical 
form, rather less than those of a hen." This difference of habit may be 
owing to particular local circumstances, such deviations being usual 
among many of our native birds. The Italians are said to compare its 
descent upon the water to a piece of lead falling upon that element ; 
and distinguish it by the name of Aquila 2)iumlina, or the Leaden 
Eagle. In the United States it is everywhere denominated the Fish- 
Hawk, or Fishing-Hawk, a name truly expressive of its habits. 
The regular arrival of this noted bird at the vernal equinox, when the 
busy season of fishing commences, adds peculiar interest to its first ap- 
pearance, and procures it many a benediction from the fisherment With 
the following lines, illustrative of these circumstances, I shall conclude 
its history : 
Soon as the Sun, great ruler of the year ! 
Bends to our northern climes his bright career ; 
And from the caves of ocean calls from sleep 
The finny shoals and myriads of the deep ; 
"When freezing tempests back to Greenland ride ; 
And day and night the equal hours divide ; 
True to the season, o'er our sea-beat shore, 
The sailing Osprey high is seen to soar, 
With broad unmoving wing ; and, circling slow, 
Marks each loose straggler in the deep below : 
Sweeps down like lightning ! plunges with a roar ! 
And bears his struggling victim to the shore. 
The long-housed fisherman lieholds with joy 
The well-known signals of his rough employ ; 
And, as he bears his nets and oars along, 
He hails the welcome season with a song. 
Note. — The Fish-Hawk passes the winter in the southern parts of the 
United States. In a winter voyage among the sea-islands of Georgia, 
and thence into East Florida, I did not observe these birds until I 
reached the river St. John, on the seventh of February. At the mouth 
of this river, which is noted for the abundance of its fish, the Ospreys 
are very numerous ; and the frequent attacks which are made upon 
them, when successful in fishing, by the piratical Bald Eagles, afi"ord a 
spectacle of no common interest. I sometimes took notice, that when 
the Fish-Hawk was likely to escape from a single enemy, and had wea- 
ried his pursuer by the dexterity of his manoeuvres, a fresh Eagle joined 
in the chase, and then all chance of escape was hopeless. 
