86 GREAT-FOOTED HAWK. 



The flight of this bird is of astonisliing rapidity. It is scarcely ever 

 seen sailing, unless after being disappointed in its attempt to secure the 

 prey which it has been pursuing, and even at such times it merely rises 

 with a broad spiral circuit, to attain a sufficient elevation to enable it to 

 reconnoitre a certain space below. It then emits a cry much resembling 

 that of the Sparrow Hawk, but greatly louder, like that of the European 

 Kestrel, and flies off* swiftly in quest of plunder. The search is often 

 performed with a flight resembhng that of the tame pigeon, until per- 

 ceiving an object, it redoubles its flappings, and pursues the fugitive with 

 a rapidity scarcely to be conceived. Its turnings, windings and cuttings 

 through the air are now surprising. It foUows and nears the timorous 

 quarry at every turn and back-cutting which the latter attempts. 

 Arrived within a few feet of the prey, the Falcon is seen protruding his 

 powerful legs and talons to their full stretch. His wings are for a mo- 

 ment almost closed ; the next instant he grapples the prize, which, if 

 too weighty to be carried off" directly, he forces obliquely toward the 

 groimd, sometimes a hundred yards from where it was seized, to kill it, 

 and devour it on the spot. Should this happen over a large extent of 

 water, the Falcon drops his prey, and sets off" in quest of another. On 

 the contrary, should it not prove too heavy, the exulting bird carries it 

 off to a sequestered and secure place. He pursues the smaller Ducks, 

 Water-hens, and other swimming birds, and if they are not quick in 

 diving, seizes them, and rises with them from the water. I have seen 

 this Hawk come at the report of a gun, and carry off a Teal not thirty 

 steps distant from the sportsman who had killed it, with a daring assu- 

 rance as surprising as unexpected. This conduct has been observed by 

 many individuals, and is a characteristic trait of the species. The largest 

 duck that I have seen this bird attack and grapple with on the wing is 

 the Mallard. 



The Great-footed Hawk does not however content himself with water- 

 fowl. He is generally seen following the flocks of Pigeons and even 

 Blackbirds, causing great terror in their ranks, and forcing them to per- 

 form variovis aerial evolutions to escape the grasp of his dreaded talons. 

 For several days I watched one of them that had taken a particular 

 fancy to some tame pigeons, to secure which it went so far as to enter 

 their house at one of the holes, seize a bird, and issue by another hole 

 in an instant, causing such terror among the rest as to render me fearful 



