270 NATURAL HISTORY. 



Marsh Harrier hawking over the sea about two hundred yards from the shore, where there was 

 shallow water, but could not see what they were taking.' 7 



THE HARRIER-HAWKS (Micraatur*). 



These constitute a little genus of Hawks peculiar to the New World, where they form a perfect 

 link between the Harriers and the Goshawks. In form they are stoutly-built birds like the latter, while 

 they retain the facial ruff of the Hari-iers, and hence the name of Harrier-Hawk adopted for them 

 here. Their habits are well described by a good observer, the late Colonel Grey son, of the U.S. Army, 

 who writes of the largest species of the genus, the Harrier-Hawk (Microst/wr semitorquatus) : 

 " Among the great variety of Hawks to be met with in a single day's excursion in the locality of 

 Mazatlan, none are so easily recognised as this peculiar and interesting species. I have found it only 

 in the heavy forests, or the immediate vicinity of a thickly-wooded country, where its slender form 

 and lengthened tail attract our attention as it swiftly glides through the tangled woods with that 

 remarkable ease which we have often noticed in the Sharp-shinned Hawk (A.fwscus). It appears 

 to be strictly arboreal in its habits, and possessed of wonderful activity, either in springing from 

 branch to branch without opening its wings, or rapidly darting through the intricacies of the bush 

 with apparently but little difficulty. I have seldom seen one of these Hawks in an open country, and 

 have never seen one flying higher than the tree tops, where they are met with. Its wings are rather 

 short, and its flight is performed by rapidly repeated strokes, only for a short distance at a time. It 

 preys upon various species of wood birds, which it captures by darting upon them on the ground or 

 in the bushes ; but the Chachalaca is its favourite game. This is a gallinaceous bird, or wild chicken, 

 about the size of, or lighter than, the common hen, and is entirely arboreal, seldom running upon the 

 ground, but is able by its peculiarly-formed feet to cling to, or spring rapidly through, the thickest 

 branches with great agility ; but this Hawk follows it with equal facility, until an opportunity offers 

 to strike its prey, then both come to the ground together, the Hawk being the lighter bird. I 

 witnessed a scene of this kind that took place when I was endeavouring to get a shot at a Chachalaca, 

 as it was jumping about the very thick branches of an acacia overgrown with lianas ; it appeared to 

 be in great distress, uttering its harsh notes of alarm, and spreading its fan-shaped tail. Suddenly I 

 saw one of these Hawks pounce upon it ; when with harsh screams of terror and pain the Chachalaca 

 dragged its captor to the ground, where they struggled for a few moments, but the unfortunate bird 

 was soon overcome. The struggling and screams of the Chachalaca created a great commotion among 

 the denizens of the woods ; far and near were heard the harsh cries of other members of its family, 

 and the Urraca Magpie, with streaming tail and ludicrous gesticulations, as well as the Blue-back 

 Jay, and other birds in the neighbourhood, gathered around to witness the scene of rapine. Suddenly 

 appeared in the midst of this clamour a lai-ger Hawk (Buteo Harrisi, And.), which rushed at once upon 

 the captor of the Chachalaca. Unable to withstand so heavy a charge, he was compelled to give up 

 his honestly captured prey to a superior force, thus proving the old adage that 'might is right.' The 

 slender but compact figure of our present subject was now seen perched upon a neighbouring bough, 

 scrutinising, with a vicious eye, the more powerful but less active bird of prey, as he vainly attempted 

 to bear off the lifeless form of the Chachalaca ; but there was one yet mightier than he. I observed 

 it for a few moments, then shot it, as also the Long-tailed Hawk, thus securing all three. 



" They build their nest of dry twigs and moss, which is placed in a very tall tree, but below the 

 higher branches. The only nest I have seen was inaccessible, therefore I regret that I am unable to 

 describe the eggs." 



THE CHANTING GOSHAWKS (Melieraxt). 



These birds are met with in Africa only, and they have received the name of " Chanting " Gos- 

 hawks from their song, which has been stated by the French traveller, Levaillant, to be of considerable 

 power, for he says he has heard the male of the Cape species (Melierax canorus) sing for hours together 

 in the twilight of moming and evening, and sometimes through the night. This, however, has been 



* /Luxpos, small; axtur, & Goshawk. See "Lawrence's Birds of Western and North -Western Mexico." "Memoirs of 

 the Boston Soc. of Nat. Hist.," VoL ii., p. 299. t ni\t, honey; itpuf, a Hawk. 



