16 ACCIPITRES. FALCONID^E. 



GREAT-FOOTED HAWK.* 



Duck-Hawk. 

 Falco anatum. 



Falco Peregrinus, WILSON. Aud. pi. 16. 

 Falco anatum, BONAP. 



The only individual of this species that has fallen 

 under my notice is a preserved specimen, now 

 before me, which was obtained and prepared at 

 the Pedro Kays, about the end of March, 1846. 

 The rocks so named, of which I may have an op- 

 portunity of speaking more at large, are situated 

 about sixty miles to the south of the western end 

 of Jamaica, forming the prominent points of a 

 large shoal, which is marked on the old Spanish 

 charts as the Vibora bank. The islets or kays are 

 the habitation of immense numbers of sea-fowl, 

 especially Boobies and Terns ; and the eggs of the 

 latter form no unimportant article of commerce. 

 Several small vessels are annually sent from King- 

 ston and other ports, in the month of March, which 

 return loaded with eggs: and parties are often 

 made by sporting .gentlemen, to enjoy the pleasure 

 of shooting on these desert rocks. 



It is to the politeness of George Wilkie, Esq., 

 who visited the Kays in the past Spring, that I am 

 indebted for the present specimen, shot by him. 



* Length 20 inches, expanse ? tail 7, flexure 14^, rictusl , tarsus 

 2^, middle toe 1-ft. claw -&. 



