greatest collection of them at the mouth of the Brazos river, of Texas. Twenty or thirty of them are constantly congregated at this place, during the spring months, to feed upon the great shoals of the luscious red fish which then make their appearance here; though otherwise a barren and uncouth spot it is, constantly enlivened by the aërial gambols of these powerful and graceful flighted birds, and many's the battle between them and the Bald Eagle that I have witnessed among the clouds at this place. They seemed to have formed a sort of colony for mutual protection, and the moment their foe, the eagle, made his appearance among them the cry of alarm was raised, and the vigilant colonists, hurrying from all quarters, attacked the robber without hesitation, and always succeeded in driving him away.

There was always a desperate battle first before the savage monarch could be routed, and I have seen them gathered about him in such numbers-whirling and tumbling amidst a chaos of floating feathers through the air-that it was impossible for a time to distinguish which was the eagle, until having got enough of it amidst such fearful odds, he would fain turn tail, and with most undignified acceleration of flight, would dart toward the covert of the heavy forest to hide his baffled royalty and shake off his pertinacious foes amidst the boughs, as do the smaller hawks when teased by the little King-birds. I was told by the residents of Valasco, at the mouth,-who from sympathy with the Fish-Hawks seemed to greatly relish the scenes-that year after year the eagles made persevering attempts to obtain a lodgment in the neighborhood of this colony, but were always promptly repulsed and finally driven off! This, therefore, formed a secure breeding-place as well as feeding-ground for these mild and amiable birds. There were several of their nests in full view of the river, and many more, I was told, in the surrounding forest.

These birds possess many traits of gentle loyalty which

entitle it to the universal sympathy which it commands from mankind. Wilson gives a fine instance in point.

"A pair of these birds, on the south side of Great Egg Har. bor river, and near its mouth, were noted for several years. The female, having but one leg, was regularly furnished, while sitting, with fish in such abundance that she seldom left the nest, and never to seek food. This kindness was continued both before and after incubation. Some animals, who claim the name and rationality of man, might blush at the recital of this fact."

Audubon also gives another example of the strength and beautity of this conjugal feeling in his noble paper on this bird. He says:

"The male assists in incubation, during the continuance of which the one bird supplies the other with food, although each in turn goes in quest of some for itself. At such times the male bird is now and then observed rising to an immense height in the air, over the spot where his mate is seated. This he does by ascending almost in a direct line, by means of continued flappings, meeting the breeze with his white breast, and occasionally uttering a cackling kind of note, by which the bystander is enabled to follow him in his progress. When the Fish-Hawk has attained its utmost elevation, which is sometimes such that the eye can no longer perceive him, he utters a loud shriek, and dives smoothly on half-extended wings toward his nest. But before he reaches it, he is seen to expand his wings and tail, and in this manner he glides toward his beloved female, in a beautifully curved line. The female partially raises herself from her eggs, emits a low cry, resumes her former posture, and her delighted partner flies off to the sea, to seek a favorite fish for her whom he loves."

If there was ever anything more tender and graceful than this little scene in the love-making of arrogant humanity, I have it yet to see. The harmlessness of its pursuits and habits, its many traits of fidelity and courage in its family re

lations, its coming always as the harbinger of spring and fresh abundance in the teeming waters, the persecutions to which it is subjected by the eagle, all combine to render it a favored bird wherever it appears in this country. Its fondness for particular localities increases this feeling greatly. Wilson says that along the Atlantic coast it is frequently as much as a luckless fowler's safety is worth who is detected in shooting the Fish-Hawk. He may congratulate himself ou escaping from the rifle of the enraged owner of the property upon which it has been in the habit of building. We give Alexander Wilson's beautiful welcome to the Fish-Hawk.

THE FISHERMAN'S HYMN.

The osprey sails above the sound,

The geese are gone, the gulls are flying;

The herring shoals swarm thick around,

The nets are launch'd, the boats are plying;

Yo ho, my hearts! let's seek the deep,
Raise high the song, and cheerly wish her,
Still as the bending net we sweep,

"God bless the fish-hawk and the fisher!

She brings us fish-she brings us spring,

Good times, fair weather, warmth and plenty,

Fine store of shad, trout, herring, ling,

Sheepshead and drum, and old woman's dainty;
Yo ho, my hearts! let's seek the deep,

Fly every oar, and cheerly wish her,

Still as the bending net we sweep,

"God bless the fish-hawk and the fisher!"

She rears her young on yonder tree,

She leaves her faithful mate to mind 'em;

Like us, for fish, she sails the sea,

And plunging, shows us where to find 'em;
Yo ho, my hearts! let's seek the deep,
Ply every oar, and cheerly wish her,
While the slow bending net we sweep,

"God bless the fish-hawk and the fisher!"

CHAPTER XIV.

MY WIFE'S STORY OF HER PET FINCHES.

THE loss of our pet, General Bem, was deeply felt. There was a sad vacancy in our home again, which we did not soon expect to have filled. However, one morning, while I yet wept for Bem, W came in with a small cage in his

hand, containing an English Bullfinch.

"See!" he said, "I have brought a fine Bullfinch to cheer you he sings very sweetly several German airs, and it will fill Bem's place a little for you!"

"No! no! I cannot let him stay-no bird can take Bem's place. I do not want another bird to love. Take him away."

"Poor little Bobby. I found him in the room of a rough fellow, who did not care for him, and who gladly exchanged the sullen bird, as he called him, for some trinket. A little girl whom I saw there told me how sweetly he sang, and I determined to have him at any rate. Must I take the poor bird away? He will be so startled among my clamorers, that he will not sing to me!"

Well, let the fellow stay-though, I assure you, I cannot

love him!"

So he hung the bird-cage on a nail in my room, and I tried to turn my back upon him. I could not help observing, however, that he seemed to relish the glow of my wood fire, and the warmth of the room, greatly; and was commencing to dress his feathers and to jump about in his little cage with quite a cheerful air.

I thought him at all events a sensible bird, and determined to give him a larger cage during the day. I then discovered that he had been so unfortunate as to lose three of his toes, perhaps in the struggles he had made, when he had been taken prisoner, by means of the deceitful bird-limed twig, so that he was almost incapable of resistance if one chose to catch him while in the cage, for in his efforts to cling to the perch, he was apt to lose his hold and tumble to the bottom of the cage, and then he would only crouch in a corner, and with his bright black eye, and beseeching chirp, pray to be left at peace.

For a week or more I took but little notice of him, only admiring his irresistible song; for he became so cheerful as to sing to us once or twice during the twenty-four hours.

One afternoon, however, I caught myself mimicking the droll whistle, with which he would break his song; and which had precisely the sound we express by the whew-o-o! when we make what we know to be some ludicrous mistake.

He instantly repeated it more slowly. I tried again and again, till he seemed satisfied, and commenced the first bar of a strain of German music, and then paused! I looked up. "What, do you mean to teach me your song?"

He repeated the notes, and I essayed to reproduce them; my effort, however, seemed to amuse the young master, for he drew out to its fullest extent his whew—ew

! ممم

But instantly commenced the bar again. By this time I had become thoroughly interested, and not liking to be laughed at, made a more successful effort. This time Bob seemed better satisfied, and added a few more notes. When I had achieved those, he repeated all and put me to the test, and so on through his whole song; every few moments, however, evidently heartily enjoying the fantastic mistakes which I made, and uttering his whistle in the most provokingly sarcastic tone. I was greatly amused, and related the story with great gusto on Mr. Webber's return.