STANLEY HAWK. 187 



where 1 then resided. That drawing is now before me, and the bird which 

 it represents is to this day undescribed. The figure would have been en- 

 graved and presented to your consideration, kind reader, had it not been 

 as stiff, and as little indicative of life, as those usually seen in books on 

 Natural History. The expectation of being able to procure another in- 

 dividual in precisely the same state of plumage, has, together with the 

 above circumstance, induced me to content myself, for the present, with 

 offering to your inspection a male, probably two years old, and an adult 

 female. I have killed many of the latter in the course of my rambles, but 

 I had not the good fortune to obtain an old male, although I have seen 

 several on wing, and once wounded one whilst perched near its nest. In 

 this article, I shall give you a full description of the three different figures, 

 as they shew considerable diversity, especially in the colour of the eyes, 

 the adult bird having the iris of a reddish-orange tint, while the young 

 bird has it of a bright yellow. But as I am desirous of adhering to 

 my plan, I shall speak of its habits before I trouble you with its de- 

 scription, remarking in the mean time, that I have honoured the species 

 with the name of the President of the Linnean Society of London, the 

 Right Honourable Lord Stanley, a nobleman whose continued kindness 

 to me I am happy in acknowledging. 



The flight of the Stanley Hawk is rapid, protracted, and even. It is 

 performed at a short height above the ground or through the forest. It 

 passes along in a silent gliding manner, with a swiftness even superior to 

 that of the Wild Pigeon (Columba migratoria), seldom deviating from a 

 straight-forward course, unless to seize and secure its prey. Now and 

 then, but seldom unless after being shot at, it mounts in the air in circles, 

 of which it describes five or six in a hurried manner, and again plunging 

 downwards, continues its journey as before. 



The daring exploits performed by the Stanley HaAvk, which have tak- 

 en place in my presence, are very numerous, and I shall relate one or two 

 of them. This marauder frequently attacks birds far superior to itself in 

 weight, and sometimes possessed of courage equal to its own. As I was 

 one morning observing the motions of some Parakeets near Bayou Sara, 

 in the State of Louisiana, in the month of November, I heard a Cock crow, 

 ing not far from me, and in sight of a farm-house. The Stanley Hawk 

 the next moment flew past me, and so close that I might have touched it 

 with the barrel of my gun, had I been prepared. Its wings struck with 

 extraordinary rapidity, and its tail appeared as if closed. Not more than 

 a few seconds elapsed before I heard the cackling of the Hens, and the 



