40 
PALCO HALIiETUS. 
in from year to year, and found them constructed as 
follows : — Externally, large sticks, from half an inch to 
an inch and a half in diameter, and two or three fed I 
in length, ])iled to the height of four or live feet, anil 
from two to three feet in breadth ; these were intcf' 
mixed with com stalks, sea-weed, pieces of vret turtj i" 
large quantities, mullein stalks, and lined ivith dry sea- 
grass ; the whole forming a mass very observable a* 
half a mile’s distance, and large enough to till a carb 
and form no inconsiderable load for a horse. TheSf ^ 
materials are so well put together, as often to adhere, 
in large fragments, after being blown down by the wind- 
My learned and obliging correspondent of New York, 
Dr Samuel L. Mitchill, observes, that “ A sort of 
superstition is entertained in regard to the tish-hawk- 
It has been considered a fortunate inciilent to have n 
nest, and a pair of these birds, on one’s fiu'in. They 
have, therefore, been generally res|)ected ; and neither 
the axe nor the gun has been lifted against them- 
Their nest continues from year to year. The same 
cou]>le, or another, as the case may be, occupies ib 
season after season. Repairs are duly made, or, i\ hen 
demolished by storms, it is industrionsly rebuilt. There 
w'as one of these nests, formerly, upon the leatlesii 
summit ot a venerable chestnut tree on our tiirm, directly 
in front of the house, at the distance of less than half 
a mile. The n ithennl trunk and boughs, surmounted 
by the coarse lyronght and capacious nest, n ils a more 
picturesque object than an obelisk ; and the flight of 
the han ks, as they ivent forth to hunt, returned with 
their game, exercised themselves in nheeling round 
and round, and circling about it, were amusing to the 
beholder, almost from morning to night. The family 
of thc.se hawks, old and young, nais killed by the 
Hessian Juijers. A succeeding piiir took possession of 
the nest ; but, in the coiu'se of time, the prongs of the 
trunk so rotted anay, tlnit the nest could no longer b* 
supported. The hawks have been obliged to seek ne"’’ 
quarters. We hare lost this part of our pro.spect j and 
