FISH HAWK, OR OSPREY. 
105 
is reduced to one third the size of life, to correspond with that of 
the Bald Eagle, his common attendant and constant plunderer. 
The Fish Hawk is migratory, arriving on the coasts of 
New York and New Jersey about the twenty-first of March, 
and retiring to the south about the twenty-second of Septem- 
ber. Heavy equinoctial storms may vary these periods of 
arrival and departure a few days ; but long observation has 
ascertained that they are kept with remarkable regularity. 
On the arrival of these birds in the northern parts of the 
United States, in March, they sometimes find the bays and 
ponds frozen, and experience a difficulty in procuring fish for 
many days. Yet there is no instance on record of their 
attacking birds, or inferior land animals, with intent to feed 
on them ; though their great strength of flight, as well as of 
feet and claws, would seem to render this no difficult matter. 
But they no sooner arrive, than they wage war on the Bald 
Eagles, as against a horde of robbers and banditti ; sometimes 
succeeding, by force of numbers and perseverance, in driving 
together with its struggles, soon carried them back again to the water, under 
which for a while they both disappeared. Presently, however, the Eagle again 
came to the surface, uttering the most piercing cries, and making apparently 
every endeavour to extricate his talons, but all in vain ; and, after struggling, 
he was carried under water. 
Savigny formed his well marked genus Pandion from this species, which we 
now adopt. The Osprey is common to both continents, and I possess one from 
New Holland in no way different. It is met with in England occasionally, but, 
according to Montague, is particularly plentiful in Devonshire. In Scotland, 
a pair or two may be found about most of the Highland lochs, where they 
fish, and, during the breeding season, build on the ruined towers so common 
on the edges or insulated rocks of these wild waters. The nest is an immense 
fabric of rotten sticks — 
Itself a burden for the tallest tree, 
and is generally placed, if such exists, on the top of the chimney, and if this 
be wanting, on the highest summit of the building. An aged tree may some- 
times be chosen, but ruins are always preferred, if near. They have the same 
propensity of returning to an old station with those of America ; and if one is 
shot, a mate is soon found, and brought to the ancient abode. Loch Lomond, 
Loch Awe and Killchurn Castle, and Loch Menteith, have been long breeding 
places. — Ed. 
