Burns—On BrodAv-wINcep HAWK. 213 
Disnosition in the Presence of Man. 
Wilson, who ‘secured the type specimen in Bartram’s own 
woods, had little opportunity to study the bird’s natural tem- 
perament. His specimen was secured but a short time before 
Audubon had taken the same species from a nest a few miles 
further up the Schuylkill. The former figured the male life 
sizé in a spirited attitude for his sixth volume of American 
Ornithology which appeared in 1812, while the latter drew the 
female early the same year: each unmindful of the other's 
greeat work in Nature’s realm. In the exact language of Wil- 
son: “It was perched on the dead limb of a high tree, feeding 
on something, which was afterwards found to be the meadow 
mouse, figured on Plate L. On my approach, it uttered a 
whining kind of whistle, and flew off to another tree, where [| 
followed and shot it. ... It seemed a remarkably strong built 
bird, handsomely marked, and was altogether unknown to me. 
Mr Bartram who examined it very attentively, declared he had 
never before seen such a hawk. On the afternoon of the next 
day, I observed another, probably its mate or companion, and 
certainly one of the same species, sailing about over the same 
woods... 1 was extremely anxious to procure this also, if pos- 
sible; but it was attacked and driven away by the Kingbird 
before I could effect my purpose, and I have never since been 
fortunate to meet with another.’ The date was May 6th, 1812. 
Audubon’s account, though verbose, is full of interest: “One 
fine May morning, when nature seemed to be enchanted at the 
sight of her own great works, when the pearly dewdrops were 
yet hanging at the point of each leaf, or lay nursed in the blos- 
soms gently rocked, as it were by the soft breezes of the early 
summer, I took my gun, and, accompanied by my excellent 
brother-in-law, William G. Bakewell, Esq., at that time a youth, 
walked toward some lovely groves, where many songsters at- 
tracted our attention by their joyous melodies. The woods 
were all alive with the richest variety, and, divided in choice; 
we kept on going without shooting at anything, so great was 
our admiration of every bird that presented itself to our view. 
As we crossed a narrow skirt of woods, my young companion 
