GREAT-FOOTED HAWK. 89 



I have known them also retire for the same purpose to the cre.vices of 

 high diffs, on the banks of Green River in the same state. One winter 

 when I had occasion to cross the Homochitta River, in the State of Mis- 

 sissippi, I observed these Hawks in greater numbers than I had ever be- 

 fore seen. 



Many persons believe that this Hawk, and some others, never drink 

 any other fluid than the blood of their victims ; but this is an error. I 

 have seen them alight on sand bars, walk to the edge of them, immerse 

 their bills nearly up to the eyes in the water, and drink in a continued 

 manner, as Pigeons are kno^vll to do, 



Falco pereghinus, Gmel. Syst. vol. i. p. 272 — Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. i. p. 33 



Ch. Bonaparte, Synopsis of Birds of the United States, p. 27. 

 Peregrine Falcon, Lath. Synopsis, vol. i. p. 73, and Suppl. p. 18. 

 Great-footed Hawk, Wilson, Americ. Ornith. vol. ix. p. 120, PI. 70". 



Adult Male. Plate XVI. Fig. 1. 



Rill shortish, as broad as deep, the sides convex, the dorsal outline 

 convex from the base ; upper mandible cerate, the • edges blunt, slightly 

 inflected, with a process towards the curvature on either side with a hol- 

 low, the tip trigonal, descending obliquely, acute ; lower mandible invo- 

 lute at the edges, truncate at the end, with a notdi near it, corresponding 

 to the process above. Nostrils round, lateral, with a soft papilla in the 

 centre, connected with the upper edge. Head rather large and round 

 Neck shortish. Body ovate, anteriorly broad. Legs robust, short 

 roundish ; tarsi covered all round with imbricated scales, the anterior 

 largest, broad, and subhexagonal, the posterior small and rounded. 

 Toes robust, covered above with broad scutella, scabrous and tubercular 

 below ; middle and outer toes connected by a membrane ; claws round- 

 ish, strong and curved, acute, marginate beneath. 



Plumage ordinary, compact, imbricated. Feathers of the back 

 rounded, of the neck and breast anteriorly broad and rounded ; of the 

 sides long, all acuminate ; of the thighs long and rounded. Space be- 

 tween the bill and eye covered only with bristly feathers. Feathers of 

 the forehead with bristly points. Wings long ; primary quills mode- 

 rately broad, attenuated ; first quill notched near the end ; secondaries 



