FISH-HAWK, OR OSPREY. 
47 
festive meeting on the occasion. They are 
‘ of a mild and peaceable disposition, living 
in great peace and harmony ; for though ndth 
att regulated communities, instances 
and robbery occur among themselves, yet these 
tlijj'Jres are extremely rare. Mr Gardiner observes, 
’Old ai’e sometimes seen high in the air, sailing 
^^.oiittinir strange gambols, with loud vociferations, 
*10ei if ‘^®"'n several hundred feet perpendicular, fre- 
y with part of a fish in one claw, n hich they 
.proud of, and to claim Aiff/t hook, as the fishermen 
0 (.,, who takes the greatest number. On these 
they serve as a barometer to foretel the 
^^“Sesof the atmosphere ; for, when the fish-hawks 
'*0llv sailing high in air, in circles, it i.s univer- 
oft/ 
of 
«a 
Mieved to ^rrognosticate a change of weather, 
.. ,, “T thunder storm, in a few hours. On the faith 
WiJl® oortainty of these signs, the experienced coaster 
'"ist 'I Propares for the expected storm, and is rarely 
Tl 
Mrjj is one singular trait in the character ot this 
grill’] "^'ioi> is mentioned in treating of the purple 
of *ind which I have had many opportunities 
li(w5,''®ssiiig. The grakles, or crow blackbirds, are 
the i "‘'‘i hy the fish-haivk to build their nests among 
Stry '?’'®'‘stiees of the sticks of which his own is con- 
tlie^p several pairs of grakles taking up their abode 
chief’ inunl)le vassals around the castle of their 
in un’,, ^’'"8'. hatching their young, and living together 
tiles harmony. I have found no less than tour of 
Slid „ clustered around the sides of the former, 
tree . fixed on the nearest branch of the adjoining 
the proprietor of this last, unable to find an 
to sj,'^"Pied corner on the premises, had been anxious 
ti, 
nare, 
‘I’s much as 
}, the company and protec- 
C'U uf t'l ■ ' - . , 
Tin 1 - generous bird. . , , 
five f "*t'-havvk is twenty-two inches in length, and 
the three inches in extent i the bill is deep black, 
lo„,e PP®® as well as lower cere, (for the base of the 
“landible has a loose moveable skin,) and also 
