ing over the lakes near the Mississippi, where they feed on the fish which
the Wood Ibis kills, the Hawks themselves being unable to discover
them whilst alive in the muddy water with which these lakes are filled.
There the Ibises wade among the water in immense flocks, and so trample
the bottom as to convert the lakes into filthy puddles, in which the fishes
are unable to respire with ease. They rise to the surface, and are instantly
killed by the Ibises. The whole surface is sometimes covered in
this manner with dead fish, so that not only are the Ibises plentifully
supplied, but Vultures, Eagles and Fish Hawks, come to participate in
the spoil. Except in such places, and on such occasions, I have not observed
the Fish Hawk to eat of any other prey than that which it had
procured by plunging headlong into the water after it.
I have frequently heard it asserted that the Fish Hawk is sometimes
drawn under the water and drowned, when it has attempted to seize a
fish which is too strong for it, and that some of these birds have been
found sticking by their talons to the back of Sturgeons and other large
fishes. But, as nothing of this kind ever came under my observation, I
am unable to corroborate these reports. The roosting place of this bird
is generally on the top-branches of the tree on which its nest is placed, or
of one close to it.
Fish Hawks are very "plentiful on the coast of New Jersey, near
Great Egg Harbour, where I have seen upwards of fifty of their nests
in the course of a day's walk, and where I have shot several in the course
of a morning. When wounded, they defend themselves in the manner
usually exhibited by Hawks, erecting the feathers of the head, and trying
to strike with their powerful talons and bill, whilst they remain prostrate
on their back.
The largest fish which I have seen this bird take out of the water,
was a Weak-Fish, such as is represented in the plate, but sufficiently
large to weigh more than five pounds. The bird carried it into the air
with difficulty, and dropped it, on hearing the report of a shot fired at it.
FALCO HALIAETUS, Linn. Syst. Nat. vol. L p. 129—Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. i. p. 17.
Ch. Bonaparte, Synops. of Birds of the United States, p. 26.
CAROLINA OSPREY, Lath. Synops. vol. i. p. 74.
FISH HAWK, FALCO HALIAETUS, Wils. Amer. Ornith. vol. v. p. 13. PI. 5. fig. I.
Adult Male. Plate LXXXI.
Bill short, as broad as deep at the base, the sides convex, dorsal
outline straight at the base, curved towards the end; upper mandible
cerate, the edges acute, with a festoon at the curvature, the tip trigonal,
deflected, very acute; lower mandible inflected at the edges, which
are slightly arched, the tip obtusely truncate, the dorsal line slightly concave
at the base, convex towards the end. Nostrils oval, oblique, lateral,
in the fore part of the cere. Head rather large. Body robust. Legs
rather long; tarsus short, remarkably thick, covered all round with
hexagonal scales; toes also remarkably thick, the outer versatile, covered
anteriorly with broad, laterally with small hexagonal scales ; claws curved,
roundish, very acute.
Plumage compact, imbricated ; feathers of the head and neck narrow,
of the back broad and rounded, of the breast also rounded. Tibial
feathers short, tarsus feathered anteriorly one-third down. Wings very
long, acute, the third quill longest, the second and fourth equal, the first
not much shorter. Tail rather long, of twelve broad, rounded feathers.
Bill brownish-black, blue at the base and margin; cere light-blue.
Iris yellow. Feet pale greyish-blue, tinged with brown; claws black.
The general colour of the upper parts is dusky brown, the tail barred
with pale brown. The upper part of the head and neck white, the middle
part of the crown dark brown. A broad band of the latter colour from
the bill down the side of the neck on each side. Under parts of the neck
brownish white, streaked with dark brown. Under parts generally
white. Anterior tarsal feathers tinged with brown.
Length 23 inches, extent of wings 54; bill along the back 2 ; tarsus
2 j , middle toe 3,
THE WEAK FISH.
The Weak Fish makes its appearance along our eastern shores about
the middle of April, and remains until autumn. It is caught in the
seine, and sold in our markets, being a delicate well-flavoured fish. It
seldom attains any remarkable size. It is particularly plentiful about
Great Egg Harbour, in New Jersey.