Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1849-08-23

ming tn Me aoafer and although the shore NAV be
strewn with them by the fishermen when enoaoed
IN drawing their sens they are perfectly safe from
the depredations of the Fish Hawk. Iffred at, or
otherwise frightened when bearing his pre- in his
talons, he uniformly drops his fish, but never bv
any chance does he descend for it, preferring 10
supply himself, as before, from headquarters. The
size OF the fish captured and bore away is some
times enormous. Those weighing from twelve to
fifteen pounds, are not unfrequently secured, but
some few instances have occurred in which the
bold fisher has "caught tartar" by seizine in
his taons fish of such size and weight that he is
utterly incapable of rising with it. In this case
the bitter and the bitten usually sacrificed, the
first by being drowned, and the second by his in
ability to free himself from the deadly gripe which
has been fixed upon him.
The nests of these birds are seen in great abun-
dance all along the sea coast of New Jersey and
so plentiful are they in the vicinity of Cape Nav
have myself counted seven in view at the same
time. Unlike most other birds, they appear at all
times 10 live al peace with their own species the
males having no quarrels with each other, even at
al to see three or more nests in the same field,
where there are suitable trees on which to place
them. These nests are most enormous structures,
built exterorly of large sticks, intermingled with
matted sea-weed, and lined with grasses. The
same nest serves the pair for great number, flor
the attachment Of the male TO the female contin-
ues through life, and is not, except in case of an
oon iHapf ~
is carefully repaired and added to, each season.
By these means it becomes so large after the lapse
of some years, as to :" fill cart, and form no in
considerable load for horse 1t is not an un-
common circumstance for the King bird, and Pur-
pie Grakle, or Crow Black-bird, (Quisculus rersi-
cotor,) to fix their nests between the twigs which
form the exterior Of the Fish Hawks abode and
here these small birds will lay their eggs, and raise
their young BROOD perfectly unmoested by the
hawks within, and apparently under their protec-
ton. So much attached do. the inhabitants of the
sea coast become to the Fish Hawks which re-
side on their plantations, that on no account will
they allow of one being killed and this is not
surprising, for in addition to the entire harmless.
ness of the bird, and its utility, arising from the
manurng of the soil, they are accustomed to see
the same pair occupying favorite tree, year after
year. and frequently recognize them by some OBJ
servable mark, or individual popularity. They
thus, when the proper season approaches, accus-
tom themselves to look for and expect them, and
when they arrive, they are hailed as old friends
and treated accordingly.
Some years since, when at Cape May, was de-
sirous of procuring pair-male and female-as
specimens for my cabinet; but in some consonance
Of the wishes of the people of the vicinity, fell
myself compelled TO 60 several miles, to one of the
unInhabited beaches, for the purpose. there shot
two avoiding the breaking up of more than one
family. by killing both the old ones.
A highly respectable gentleman, then a resi-
dent of the lower part of New Jersey once related
to me an anecdote of the Fish Hawk, which,
think, possesses peculiar interest. BY some
chance, one of pair of these birds which had
long occupied tree on his farm, was killed, and
that too at the commencement of season; or be-
fore preliminary business of repairing the old nest
had been attended to. The mate seemed ncon-
soable for days, sitting listlessly about the
tree near the nest, and not once visiting the water
in search Of food. One morning he observed some
| fifteen or twenty of the Hawks collected around
the spot, and among them he recognized the sur
viving proprietor Of the nest. The whole com
pany seemed tobe consulting together upon an i'm
portant subject; there was great deal of flying
around, accompanied by almost incesant squeal
ing. After perhaps several hours spent in this
way all the birds retired excepting only the wild
owed one, who remained, as before, perched neal
the nest. Soon she few off, sailing high in the
air, in circles, for short time. and finally head
ing toward the South, she was soon lost to sight
! The gentleman who had been watching these ma
noeuvres, thought she had left the neighborhooc
entirely, but what was his pleasure, on the third
day thereafter to see the poor bird return accom-
panied by another, both of whom flew straight to
the nest, and lighted on its edge. In few min
utes all the Hawks in the vicinity again congrega
ted, and as before the circlng and squealing were
repeated, even more voiciferously than at first
This lasted an hour or two, when the guests de
parted, and the newly united pair remained, aid
Immediately commenced to get the nest ready fo
the reception of the expected brood.
"My friend calls this " The Marriage ofthe Fist
Hawks"