RED-TAILED HAWK. 261 



and threatenings of revenge, bespeak the ferocity and 

 destructive energies of this common enemy 



The daring boldness of this Hawk is without parallel in 

 its kind. Conscious of the superiority only of man, it 

 seems, guided by instinct, to delay its depredations until 

 the farmer is absent from his home, and then, with a rapid 

 flight, it leaves its seat of observation, and silent as death, 

 with wings motionless, it skims over the top of the orchard, 

 direct for the farm-house, appearing to choose this dense 

 collection of foliage to hide it from view, until the first inti- 

 mation of its approach is resounded from a hundred cack- 

 ling throats, that the enemy is at hand, and the work of 

 destruction done. By one swoop, scarcely retarded in its 

 progress, this bird of prey seizes its vfctim in its powerful 

 talons, and bears it off, still alive, and writhing in the ago- 

 nies of death, to the wood. 



The flight of this Hawk is regular and majestic when 

 sailing in the air. In the autumn, when the cooling breezes 

 of the North are playing through the faded leaves of the 

 forests, then may be seen against a cloudless sky, the 

 spiral movements of this bird. At first, it leaves its lofty 

 seat with a few fluttering motions of the wings, and then 

 with motionless and outstretched pinions, it cleaves the air, 

 in a continual circular flight, ascending gradually at every 

 revolution, until it is finally lost to human ken. But when 

 in search of prey, the majesty of the bird is obscured by 

 its predatory designs. Its sight, which is only smrpassed 

 by that of the eagle, is most wonderful. Passing rapidly 

 over woods or fields, the slightest motion on the earth or 

 in the grass, is detected by the keenness of its vision ; then 

 its progress is immediately retarded by alighting on a 

 neighboring tree, or making a contracted circular flight 

 over the spot whence the motion proceeded, until the cause 

 which arrested its attention is fully ascertained; and if 

 there be a subject for its appetite, it seldom fails to secure 

 it. When seated on a tree, this Hawk is grave and watch- 



