The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-09-20
---------s-------s------ Y AME Els H ttAW KS.

For nearly three months, now, have
 had an opportunity to study two fish
 hawks under what may be considered
 very unusual conditions. That is to
 say, they are tanner than domestic poul- try, yet as free as the air itself, coming
 and going precisely when they choose.
 Wishing to study the habits of these
 splendid birds at somewhat closer range than is usually possible, took two we'll
 feathered young ones from their nest in
 the early summer and brought them home. We had long railroad journey
 before us, so I bought supply of fish l and from time to time brought out my
 charges and fed them on the train,
 much to the amusement of the other
 passengers in the car. The larger of
 the two birds fed freely, snatching the
 fish from my hand, but the smaller one
 refused to eat, and it was necessary to
 put the food into her mouth when she
 swallowed it willingly. Next day we
 made a nest for the birds out in the
 garden. It was raised about three feet 1 from the gounds, measured about four
 feet across and was as nearly like their
 old home as it could be made with oak
 boughs and dry leaves. For several
 days the little fellows lay still the
 greater part of the time. with necks ex- tended forward and heads prone on the
 floor of the nest. When they saw me
 coming with fish, they staggered to | their feet, quacking very much like 1 ducks, lying down again as soon as
 their hunger was satisfied. The larger
 one maintained his lead. and no doubt
 will always be a bigger and more pow
 erful bird than his nest mate. As they grew, their appetites increased, and in a | few days they were eating between
 three and half and four pounds of solid fish day, between them.
 l AS they grew older and as their wings
 became longer, we used to take them
 out into the fields and woods to experi-
 ment with them. One day we had them l out in this way, when one of them perched on the outstretched branch of & l tree, made an attempt to fly. At first | he sank towards the ground, but find l ing that by using his wings he could | hold his own, he worked harder and harder, and presently rose into the air. | Away he flew for half a mile, then wheeled and flew back aver our heads | and out of sight over the top of wood. Thinking he might have alighted with 1 in a mile or two we spent the rest of the afternoon in searching for him, but | without success, and we never expected to see him again. Next morning, how
 ever, my brother was walking through wood, not far from the house, when he l heard the well-known notes of the bird, and, looking up, spied the fish-hawk in a tree. The bird was evidently hungry,
 and seeing friend approach, no doubt
 he considered it a good time to call for aid. After a deal of trouble he was captured and brought home. A few days later we had him out again and again he flew away. AS we returned home without him, my brother re- marked, What joke it would be if we found him on his perch in the garden"
 This was the most unlikely possibility we could think of, yet there we found the hawk, tearing to pieces the remains of 8 fish. Nor did he attempt to fly away when we approached, sso we deci- ded that he should have his liberty and
 do as he pleased. For the first few
 days we kept the other hawk tethered with a strap on her leg, thinking that her presence might be an additional in- ducement for the free bird to return. Soon, however, we set her at liberty also and ever since they have been more like homing pigeons than wild hawks. They roost on the chimney, and come down every day for the fish which we always have ready for them
 If they are not bothered they eat the fish in their old nest or in a nearby perch, but if a stranger approaches they will take up their food in one foot and fly with it either to the chimney, a neighbours windmill, or any convenient dead tree.
 It was not long before they began to fish a little on their own account in g. small lake not far from the house. I was a witness to one of the first at- tempts, and it was not by any means success. After sailing about over the water for several minutes, the hawk ev- idently saw fish, for he hung flutter~ ing over the spot and then made very slow and clumsy plunge. The fish had plenty of time to escape, and no doubt he did so. The hawk disappeared under the water, but presently came to the surface, where for several seconds he vainly beat his wings in an effort to rise into the air. Then he lay quite still and I was so afraid that he as go- ing to drown that began to undress to go to his assistance. A moment later, however, he made mighty effort, arose dripping wet, and squared away for his old perch on the chimney, where he dried his plumage in the sun. In q few days both hawks became more skillful and frequently caught perch. But they still remember a certain little garden where fish may be had by simply screaming for it, and back they come whenever their luck has been poor. and xrontiI1ua1 oaa TTftJr