FISII-HAWrC, OR OSPREY. 39 
^ feed on them ; though their great strength of flight, 
"’ell as of feet and claws, would seem to render this 
difficult matter. But they no sooner arrive, than they 
"’’'Re war on the bald eagles, as against a horde ot 
tobbers and banditti ; sometimes succeeding, by lorce 
®f numbers and perseverance, in driving them from 
haunts, but seldom or never attacking them in 
^h'gle combat. 
The first appearance of the fish-hawk in spring, is 
"elcomed bv the fishermen, as the happy signal of the 
^Wnoach of those vast shoals of herring, shad, &c. 
.hat regularly arrive on our coasts, and enter our riyere 
tn Such prodigious multitudes. Two of a trade, 'f 
^’^hl, seldom agree ; the adage, however, will not hold 
f^nd ill the uresent case, for such is the respect paid 
‘•“t fish-hank, not only by this class of men, but, 
Setierally by the whole neighbourhood where it resides, 
fhat a person who should attempt to shoot one ot tlmm, 
"'duld stand a fair chance of being insulted, llns 
l*''®possession in favour of the fish-hawk is honourable 
n their feelings. They associate, with its first appear- 
ideas of plenty, and all the gaiety of business ; 
they see it active and industrious like themselves; 
'^‘efl'eiisive to the productions of their fanns ; building 
"■'fh confidence, and without the least di.sposition to 
Concealment, in the middle of their fields, and along 
Jheir fences ; and retiirniug, year after year, regularly 
fis former abode. „ , , „ 
.The nest of the fish-hawk is usually built on the top 
u*. dead, or decaying tree, sometimes not more than 
^cen, often upwards of fifty feet, from the ground, 
has been rem*arked by the people of the sea coasts, 
the most thriving tree will die in a few years after 
^ctng taken possession of by the fish-hawk. This ,s 
attributed to the fish-oil, and to the excrements ot the 
but is more probably occasioned by the large 
“cap of wet salt materials of which the nest is nsuaUy 
composed. In my late excursions to the sea shore, I 
®«ceuded to several of these nests that had been built 
