28 GREAT-FOOTED HAWK. 



change of plumage. It was a female, and was allowed the free range 

 of a stable and garden. Notwithstanding my care, it lived but nine 

 months. On dissection, I found her eggs very small, although she had 

 every appearance of being an adult. Around the base of the heart, 

 and near the ovaries, I discovered two or three round worms, of about 

 nine inches in length. 



During the time tbnt she was in my possession she did not moult ; 

 and the change in the color of the plumage was but slight. In winter, 

 the upper parts were dark brown, but in the summer there was an 

 appearance of ash color on the back and wing-coverts. The fact, that 

 the plumage of birds undergoes a change of color, independent of moult- 

 ing, appears to be now well ascertained ; and it is with pleasure that 

 I can add my testimony, on this subject, to the sensible " Remarks on 

 the Changes of the Plumage of Birds," which were published in the 

 twelfth volume of the Transactions of the Linnean Society of London. 

 The paper in question was written by the Rev. William Whitear. 



My Duck Hawk never became sufficiently domesticated to permit me 

 to handle her ; and if an attempt were made to touch her, she would 

 either hop away in anger, or, if prevented from retreating, she would 

 spring upon mc, and strike, furiously, with one of her powerful feet, 

 which were capable of inflicting severe wounds. Unless when very 

 hungry, she would not touch cooked food ; she preferred fresh-killed 

 meat, especially tender beef and mutton, generally rejecting the fat. 

 She was fond of small birds, but a live duck was her supreme delight; 

 the sight of one would make her almost frantic ; at such times the 

 vigor and activity of her movements, and the animation of her eye, 

 were truly admirable. Her antipathy to cats was great, and when one 

 of these animals approached her, she manifested her displeasure by 

 raising her plumes, opening her mouth, and uttering some sounds, which 

 were doubtless intended as a premonition of danger. If, regardless of 

 all these, the cat got within striking distance, one blow from the Hawk 

 was generally suflScient to compel the intruder to a hasty retreat.* 



* From Mr. Ord's supplementary volume. 



