324 Remarks oil AuduhorCs Birds of America^ 



Plate LXXVI. Virginian Partridges surprised hy a HawJc. 

 — The savage ferocity of the bird of prey, manifested in the 

 glare of his eye, the bill half open in anticipation of carnage, 

 and the outstretched talons with which he is about to seize his 

 terrified prey, seemingly perplexed in his choice by the number 

 of birds which have in their terror become heaped upon each 

 other, is a subject repugnant perhaps in itself, but rendered in- 

 tensely interesting by the skill with which it has been managed. 

 Almost every possible attitude is exhibited in the group. Some 

 of the partridges are flying off with palpitating hearts ; others 

 are endeavouring to evade the murderer's grasp by dashing side- 

 long along the ground ; some are beaten down and hampered by 

 the rest ; one upset, and desperate, meets the foe with its power- 

 less claws and open bill. Terror and dismay are depicted in 

 every countenance. Never before did we imagine that the pas- 

 sions of birds could be expressed in a manner so intelligible. 



Plate XI. The Bird of Washington, — Powerful, sedate, and 

 in an imposing attitude, whether this bird bears any resem- 

 blance to him after whom it is named or not, it is one of the, 

 most magnificent of the feathered race. As the colours are sim- 

 ple, and the parts large, one might imagine it no difficult task 

 to represent an eagle ; yet we have never seen one represented 

 before! 



Plate XVI. Peregrine Falcons devouring their prey. — A 

 picture like this can hardly be called pleasing, yet this is one 

 which has justly attracted the notice, and elicited the praises, 

 of all who have seen Mr Audubon's splendid collection of draw- 

 ings. The altitudes are highly characteristic. The general 

 position of the female falcon, and especially that of its left leg, 

 are finely managed, as is the foreshortening of the head and 

 neck of the male. - / ■ . 



Plate XVII. Carolina T^wnfe*.— Ellis' W^one of^'me mos'i* 

 pleasing pictures in the work. In a cluster of Stuartia Mala- 

 codendron a dove has made her nest. Seated on her eggs, she 

 is receiving from her ever kind and attentive mate, the food 

 which he has been collecting for her. On a twig above is a 

 loV^scene in its commencement. The female, coy and timorous, 

 has, ifi her sidelong retreat from the male, reached the extremity 

 of the branch, and has already half opened her wings and tail 



