OF NEW ENGLAND. 349 



nit}- of open warfare, and pursuing birds on the wing with un- 

 surpassed courage, speed, and skill. They are known to breed 

 in several isolated parts of New England, where the}- are prob- 

 ably resident throughout the year, but in Eastern Massachu- 

 setts they are extremely rare, though they may occur along the 

 coast in autumn or winter. Audubon, from his devotion to 

 the pursuit of birds, was undoubtedly more familiar with the 

 birds of prey than any other of our writers ; and, having had 

 no opportunities to study the habits of the Duck Hawk, I shall 

 therefore quote from him. 



"The flight of this bird is of astonishing rapidity. It is 

 scarcely ever seen sailing, unless after being disappointed in 

 its attempt to secure the prey which it has been pursuing, and 

 even at such times it merely rises with a broad spiral circuit, 

 to attain a sufficient elevation to enable it to reconnoitre a cer- 

 tain 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 timorous 

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

 tempts. 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 



