AUDUBON JOURNAL 



Great Footed Hawk, the Bird Alexander Willson heard 

 so Many wonderfull Tales of — these Birds are plenty 

 on this River at this season every Year according to 

 all the accounts I have Collected but allways ex- 

 tremely Shy, and I Believe few Men Can Boast of 

 having Killed Many of them, for 1 5 years, that I have 

 hunted and seen probably one hundred [of] I Never 

 had the satisfaction of bringing one to the Ground — 

 I often have seen them after hearing their Canon 

 Ball Like wissling Noise through the Air seize their 

 Prey on the Wing particularly at Henderson Kentucky, 

 where I watched for Weeks near a Pigeon House, 

 that furnished one of those daring Robbers, with food 

 & Exercise — No doubt that the Clouds Ducks of some 

 many Species as are found on this River, renders it a 

 pleasant and fruitfull Winter Residence — 



We have seen about 50 since a few Weeks — they fly 

 fast, with quick motions of their Wings, seldom Sailing 

 except when about alighting: — the Specimen before 

 me is a very Old Bird and a beautifuU one, When on 

 the Wing they appear Black and are often Mistaken 

 for the Falco Niger — Killed 3 Geese; — 



Saw a Tell Tale Godwit, the Only one seen since I 

 Left the Ohio — but understanding that that River is 

 now considerably raised, I expect they are forced to 

 abandon it — 



Cap^ Cummings saw 4 Deer this Evening — 



We are Now Landed about 1 5 Miles above Natchez, 



-87 



