350 LAND-BIRDS AND GAME-BIRDS 
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 dar- 
ing 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 grapple with on the wing is the Mallard. 
‘The Great-footed Hawk does not, however, content himself 
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 fortu- 
nately shot the depredator. 
‘*'They occasionally feed on dead fish that have floated to 
the shores or sand bars. * * * 
‘Whilst in quest of food, the Great-footed Hawk will fre- 
quently alight on the highest dead branch of a tree in the im- 
mediate neighbourhood of such wet or marshy grounds as the 
Common Snipe resorts to by preference. His head is seen 
moving in short starts, as if he were counting every little space 
below; and while so engaged, the moment he spies a Snipe, 
down he darts like an arrow, making a rustling noise with his 
wings that may be heard several hundred yards off, seizes the 
Snipe, and flies away to some near wood to devour it. 
‘It is a cleanly bird, in respect to feeding. No sooner is the 
prey dead than the Falcon turns its belly upward, and begins 
to pluck it with his bill, which he does very expertly, holding it 
meantime quite fast in bis talons; and as soon as a portion is 
cleared of feathers, tears the flesh in large pieces, and swallows 
it with great avidity. Ifit is a large bird, he leaves the refuse 
parts, but, if small, swallows the whole in pieces. Should he 
be approached by an enemy, he rises with it and flies off to the 
interior of the woods, or if he happens to be in a meadow, to 
some considerable distance, he being more wary at such times 
than when he has alighted on a tree.” 
