12 ACCIPITRES. FALCONID^E. 



of these Hawks swooped together upon a white 

 barn-door cock, who defended himself so vigorously 

 and so successfully as to keep them both at bay 

 for some time, until, help coming, both the maraud- 

 ers were shot. 



Some observations of Mr. Hill's, on the flight 

 of the birds of prey, elicited by a few remarks in a 

 letter from a friend, appeared to me so interesting, 

 that he kindly placed both in my hands, for the 

 advantage of the present work ; and I here present 

 them to my readers. 



Samuel R. Ricketts, Esq., to Richard Hill, Esq. 



" With regard to Hawks, I have had many 

 opportunities of observing their habits here, as I 

 have a large common, and a flock of turkeys. They 

 perform successive circular movements in the air, 

 and their pounce is done by closing the wings 

 upwards. They appear to be falling, when doing 

 so. A chicken was taken here some days ago 

 from the roof of the house, having fallen from the 

 talons of a Hawk I was in pursuit of. The South 

 American Hawks fly higher, and in larger circles, 

 than those of Europe : why, I cannot tell, but 

 such is the fact. I speak from personal observation. 

 Our Hawk has a peculiar note in very dry weather, 

 and is then said by the negroes to be " calling the 

 rain." 



Richard Hill, Esq., in Reply. 



"Your observation about the widened circuit 

 which the Hawks of this country, and those of 



