It is, however, time
to determine, and we, accordingly, choose the following:--
_The Osprey._
It would appear that the Americans are very fond of these birds, from
some prevalent superstition connected with them. "It has been
considered," says Dr. S. Mitchill, of New York, "a fortunate incident
to have a nest and a pair of these birds on one's farm. They have,
therefore, been generally respected, and neither the axe nor the gun
has been lifted against them. Their nest continues from year to year.
The same couple, or another, as the case may be, occupies it season
after season. Repairs are duly made; or, when demolished by storms, it
is industriously rebuilt. There was one of these nests, formerly, upon
the leafless summit of a venerable chestnut-tree, on our farm,
directly in front of the house, at the distance of less than half a
mile. The withered trunk and boughs, surmounted by the coarse-wrought
and capacious nest, was a more picturesque object than an obelisk; and
the flights of the hawks, as they went forth to hunt, returned with
their game, exercised themselves in wheeling round and round, and
circling about it, were amusing to the beholder, almost from morning
till night. The family of these hawks, old and young, was killed by
the Hessian jagers. A succeeding pair took possession of the nest;
but, in the course of time, the prongs of the trunk so rotted away
that the nest could no longer be supported.
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