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 his talons ; and as soon as a portion is 

 cleared of feathers, tears the flesh in large pieces, and swallows 

 it with great avidity. If it is a large bird, he le-aves 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 bo in a meadow, to 

 some considerable distance, he being more wary at such times 

 than when he has alighted on a tree." 



