May, 190S 



THE MEXICAN BLACK HAWK 



117 



Honduras, Central America, where the Mexican Black Hawk is by far the most 

 abundant hawk of the region. 



The favorite haunt of this species there, I found, was the long stretches of 

 sand dunes and savannas studded here and there by clumps of palmetto and 

 gnarled pines. 



Here the ground is honey-combed by thousands of holes of various sizes, the 

 abode of countless numbers of huge land crabs. In the evening, as soon as the 

 sun is down, they come out from their holes by thousands, hurrying here and 

 there and always fighting, brandishing their big claws in the air like a pigmy 

 wielding a huge scoop-shovel. 



It is then that the hawks are seen busily engaged in their pursuit for food, as 

 these crabs form almost their sole diet in this particular locality. They always 

 catch and kill more than they can eat at the time in order that they may not be 

 wanting on the morrow when all the crabs have gone deep in their holes to escape 

 the heat of the day. Occasionally I noticed a hawk flying to the nest with a large 



NEST OF MEXICAN BI.ACK HAWK 



lizard or snake, but more frequently they were satisfied with the crabs obtained the 

 night before. In not one instance did I see them in pursuit of any birds, nor do 

 their nests with young show any signs that birds are ever taken as prey. 



In flight they excel every one of the hawks, kites, or falcons except possibly 

 the Swallow-tailed Kite. Their flight is really marvelous, excelling in some par- 

 ticulars even the far-famed Frigate or Man-o-war Bird. The greater part of the 

 year they are rather dull and sluggish but when nesting time comes they are ever 

 on the wing until the young are able to take care of themselves. 



It is very interesting to see them obtaining material for the nest. They circle 

 high in the air sending out their queer whistling cry, when suddenly one of them 

 folds its wings very close to its side and plunges towards the ground with the 

 speed of an arrow. One almost holds his breath expecting to see the great bird 

 strike the earth with such force that he will be transformed into a lifeless mass of 

 bone and feather. But suddenly just before he reaches the dead tree, thru whose 

 branches you expect to see him crashing, he throws open his wings to their full ex- 



