Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-10-29
QUEER COMPACT OF
OSPREY AND EAGLE
Bird Of Freedom Watches Fishers
Nest While II Dives for Prey.
for Both.

Nest "Hhe " LIVES TOR FFcy.
for Both.
Philadelphia. Pa--Every body who
summers on the Jersey coast has seen
the fish hawk at work. tho OF late
years the number OF such birds seems
10 be decreasing.
The negroes down in Charles
County. Maryland. in that faraway
region of Rack Point. on the
lever Potomac where the river
hroadens out like sea ana
where the fish hawk is common. have
a story about 1t and the eagles which
is interesting. While the fish hawk.
or osprey dives into the water for its
food. which consists OF fish and cells.
the eagle is 'landlubber' and would
starye If he had IL undertake a li,eli.
hood by Drawing 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 IL me with a
fine fat fish In his claws. said:
mir. Fish Hawk. you and might as
we'll be friends and join together and
work for our mutual advantage"
Il 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, III tell you
what We can do" said the eagle. III
you will catch all the fish you can amt
give me half Of what you get. I'll keep
watch in the old pine tree next to
your nest and protect your wife and
children from the sparrow hawks and
your other enemies while you are at
work fishing"
"All right said the fish hawk, Il
will do it,"
From that day on. the story goes,
the FISH hawk has fed the eagle. He
dots 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 Weighing prey in his talons
After taking frmer hold on his vic.
tim he ascends by spiral flight into
the heavens. The eagle has been
watching from tai. tree or crag, and,
as the fish hawk rises. the eagle also
darts into the sky above him. This
is rotice for all the fish hawks
enemies among the feathered tribe to
retreat.
Just as the fish hawk gets to a
point on n plane that is level with
that of the eagle, he relaxes his grip
cr the fish and it begins to fall. 1t
is then the eagles time for quick
action. Like shot from rapid-dre
gun he dives and in second or two
has the fish in his claws.
The aerial throw and catch" game
b.tween the two great birds goes on
continually over the broad waters OF
the Potomac, much to the edification
OF the onlookers. OF course there
must be times when the eagle fails to
catch the fish as he swoops down thru
the air after it, but it cannot be
proved by an. one who has witnessed
tni., particular aerial feat on the part
Of the bird OF freedom" Nobody
seems to have ever seen the eagle
miss and noboi. seems to have ever
known the ISL hawk to fail to catch
a fish when he dived for it.
As the Ash hawk rises in the air
cftentimes, especially on a sunLy day,
f sheen OF the fish can be seen like
q piece OF silver in his claws, and
sometimes the "silyer" can be seen
wriegling, impressing one strangely
as his eyes witness this tragedy in
the air In which the victim can have
10 hope of rescue.
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