File:The life and habits of wild animals (1874) (14747791681).jpg

Identifier: cu31924104730357 (find matches)
Title: The life and habits of wild animals
Year: 1874 (1870s)
Authors: Wolf, Joseph, 1820-1899 Elliot, Daniel Giraud, 1835-1915
Subjects: Animal behavior Birds
Publisher: London, A. Macmillan
Contributing Library: Cornell University Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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no energetic egg-collector ever taken the speckled treasures from that islandhome, and from, their secure refuge the young have watched their parents departupon their fishing excursions, and return again,-with labored flight, bearing the fruitsof their industry with them. , It is a beautiful sight to witness the fish-hawk pursuing his finny prey.Behold with what grace he leaves his rocky sanctuary, launching himself into theair upon his broad wings, and circling with easy, powerful sweeps, around andabove.his impregnable home. Satisfied that all is well, he wends his way towardsthe shores of the loch, where the water is less deep, and where his keen eye canperceive the objects of his search swimming at but a little depth below the surface.Slowly he proceeds, scanning closely all that passes beneath ; suddenly he checkshis course and with quickly repeated flappings of his wings, holds himself stationaryfor a moment, then falls like a dart, and disappears in a cloud of spray. Soon PLATE
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THE ISLAND SANCTUARY, THE ISLAND SANCTUARY. 19 however he emerges,- rising heavily, for his talons grasp firmly a large fish (whichIS held lengthwise with his body, never across), and, after gaining a slight eleva-tion above the water, he shakes his plumage free from the glittering drops thatstill cling to it, much as a dog would on leaving the water, and wings his way home-ward, announcing his success by shrill oft-repeated cries. The young hear thewelcome notes, and with many hisses, expressive of their gratification at the comingfeast, drag their half-fledged bodies to the edge of the nest, and with outstretchednecks and raised wings impatiently await the approaching parent bird. As he risesslowly to the height of the nest, he makes one half-circle to see that all is right,and then alights with his burden, which is speedily torn to pieces by the sharp beaksof the hungry brood. Although possessed of very powerful talons, and capable of inflicting severewounds, the Fish-hawk is one o

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