364 LAND-BIRDS. 



and even at such times it merely rises with a broad spiral cir- 

 cuit, to attain a sufficient elevation to enable it to reconnoitre 

 a certain space below. It then emits a cry much resembling 

 that of the Sparrow Hawk, but greatly louder, like that of the 

 European Kestrel, and flies off swiftly in quest of plunder. 

 The search is often performed with a flight resembling that of 

 the tame Pigeon, until, perceiving an object, it redoubles its 

 flappings and pursues the fugitive with a rapidity scarcely to 

 be conceived. Its turnings, windings, and cuttings through 

 the air are now surprising. It follows and nears the timor- 

 ous quarry at every turn and back-cutting which the latter 

 attempts. Arrived within a few feet of the prey, the Falcon 

 is seen protruding his powerful legs and talons to their full 

 stretch. His wings are for a moment almost closed ; the next 

 instant he grapples the prize, which, if too weighty to be car- 

 ried off directly, he forces obliquely toward the ground, some- 

 times a hundred yards from where it was seized, to kill it, and 

 devour it on the spot. Should this happen over a large extent 

 of water, the Falcon drops his prey, and sets off in quest of 

 another. On the contrary, should it not prove too heavy, the 

 exulting bird carries it off to a sequestered and secure place. 

 He pursues the smaller Ducks, Water-hens, and other swim- 

 ming birds, and if they are not quick in diving, seizes them, 

 and rises with them from the water. I have seen this Hawk 

 come at the report of a gun, and carry off a Teal not thirty 

 steps distant from the sportsman who had killed it, with a 

 daring assurance as surprising as unexpected. This conduct 

 has been observed by many individuals, and is a characteristic 

 trait of the species. The largest Duck that I have seen this 

 bird attack and grapj)le with on the wing is the Mallard. 



" The Great-footed Hawk does not, however, content him- 

 self with water-fowl. He is sometimes seen following flocks 

 of Pigeons and even Blackbirds. For several days I watched 

 one of them that had taken a particular fancy to some tame 

 Pigeons, to secure which it went so far as to enter their house 

 at one of the holes, seize a bird, and issue by another hole in 

 an instant, causing such terror among the rest as to render 

 me fearful that they would abandon the place. However, I 

 fortunately shot the depredator. 



