Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1916-12-30
BIRDS IN COMPACT
EAGLE AND FISH HAWK HAVE AN
UNDERSTANDING.
Monarch Of the Air Watches Nest OF
Business Partner While the Lat
ter Catches Food for Both
Their keeda

l
sey coast has seen the fish hawk a
work, though Of late years the number
Of such birds seems to be decreasing
The negroes down In Charles coun
ty. Maryland, In that faraway region
Of Rock Point ON the lower Potomac
where the river broadens out like q
sea and where the fish hawk Is com
mon, have story about 1t and the
eagle which Is interesting. While the
fish hawk, or osprey, dives into the
water for Its food, which consists of
Ash and cells, the eagle Is "land-lub-
Der" and would starve II he had to un-
dertake to make livelihood by brav-
Ing the watery depths.
The story, that has Its place In the
folklore Of the "Black Belt" Of Mary
land, is that one day the eagle was
very hungry and meeting the fish hawk
as he was flying home with fine fish
In his claws, said:
"Mr. Fish Hawk, you and might aa
well be friends and join together and
work for our mutual advantage"
II am willing" said the fish hawk.
soaring along with the eagle by his
side, but keeping tighter grip on the
fish.
"As you agree with me, I'll tell you
what We can do" said the eagle. "If
you will catch all the fish you can and
give me half what you get I'll keep
watch In the old pine tree next to your
nest and protect your wife and chill
dren from the sparrow hawks and your
other enemies while you are at work
fishing"
"All right" said the fish hawk. "I
will do It,"
From that day on, the story goes,
the fish hawk has fed the eagle. He
does this In an odd and interesting
manner. His eyes are very keen and
he can see to considerable depth In
the water, and as he skins along over
the surface OF the deep he picks out
the fat fish he wants. Quick as light
ming he plunges down, extends his
claws and In the next instant rises with
the wriggling prey in his talons. After
taking firmer hold on his victim he
ascends by a spiral flight into the
heavens. The eagle has been watch
ing from tall tree or crag and, as the
fish hawk rises the eagle also darts into
the sky above him. This Is notice for
all the fish hawks enemies among the
feathered tribe to retreat.
Just as the fish hawk gets to a point
on plane that Is level with that OF the
eagle he relaxes his grip on the fish
and 1t begins to fall 1t IL then the
eagles time for quick action. Like a
shot from rapid-ire gun he dives and
In second or two has the fish In his
claws.
This aerial throw and catch" game
between the two great birds goes on
over the broad waters Of
the Potomac, much to the edifcation
Of the Onlookers. OF course, there
must be times when the eagle fails to
catch the fish as he swoops down
through the air after 1t, but 1t cannot
be proved by anyone who has wit
messed this particular aerial feat on
he part of the bird Of freedom" No
body seems to have ever seen the
'agle miss, and nobody seems to have
'ver known the fish hawk fail to catch
! fish when he Owed for It,
As the fish hawk rises In the air
especially on sunny day.
he sheen of the fish can be seen like q
iece Of silver In his claws, and some
mes the silver" can be seen wrig-
ling, impressing one strangely as their
yes witness this tragedy In the air in
'hich the victim can have no hope Of
sscue.