174 SPRING AT THE CAPITAL. 



Washington as soon as the season begins to 

 open, sailing leisurely along two or three 

 hundred feet overhead, or sweeping low over 

 some common or open space, where, per- 

 chance, a dead puppy, or pig, or fowl has 

 been thrown. Half a dozen will sometimes 

 alight about some such object out on the 

 commons, and with their broad dusky wings 

 lifted up to their full extent, threaten and 

 chase each other, while perhaps one or two 

 are feeding. Their wings are very large and 

 flexible, and the slightest motion of them, 

 while the bird stands upon the ground, suf- 

 fices to lift its feet clear. Their movements 

 when in air are very majestic and beautiful 

 to the eye, being in every respect identical 

 with those of our common hen or red-tailed 

 hawk. They sail along in the same calm, 

 effortless, interminable manner, and sweep 

 around in the same ample spirals. The 

 shape of their wings and tail, indeed their 

 entire effect against the sky, except in size 

 and color, is very nearly the same as that of 

 the hawk mentioned. A dozen at a time 

 may often be seen high in air, amusing them- 

 selves by sailing serenely round and round 

 in the same circle. 



They are less active and vigilant than the 



