106 BLACK HAWK. 



the common family to which they belong; for this family like- 

 ness is never lost in the living bird, though in stuffed skins, 

 and preserved specimens, it is frequently entirely obliterated. 

 I have no hesitation, therefore, in giving it as my opinion, that 

 the present and preceding birds are of the same species, differ- 

 ing only in age, both being males. Of the female I am unable 

 at present to speak. 



Pennant, in his account of the Chocolate-coloured Hawk? 

 which is very probably the same with the present and prece- 

 ding species, observes, that it preys much on Ducks, sitting on 

 a rock, and watching their rising, when it instantly strikes them. 



While traversing our seacoast and salt marshes, between 

 Cape May and Egg-Harbour, I was every where told of a Duck 

 Hawk, noted for striking down Ducks on wing, though flying 

 with their usual rapidity. Many extravagances were mingled 

 with these accounts, particularly, that it always struck the 

 Ducks with its breast-bone, which was universally said to pro- 

 ject several inches, and to be strong and sharp. From the best 

 verbal descriptions I could obtain of this Hawk, I have strong 

 suspicions that it is no other than the Black Hawk, as its wings 

 were said to be long and very pointed, the colour very dark, 

 the size nearly alike, and several other traits given that seem- 

 ed particularly to belong to this species. As I have been pro- 

 mised specimens of this celebrated Hawk next winter, a short 

 time will enable me to determine the matter more satisfactorily. 

 Few gunners in that quarter are unacquainted with the Duck 

 Hawk, as it often robs them of their wounded birds, before 

 they are able to reach them. 



