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THE BROAD-WINGED HAWK. 



FaLCO PENNSYLVANICUS, WiLS. 'oJt,*- /.(yUTf-i 



PLATE XCI. Male and Female. 



One fine May morning, when nature seemed to be enchanted at the 

 sight of her own great works, when the pearly dew-drops were yet hang- 

 ing at the point of each leaf, or lay nursed in the blossoms, gently rock- 

 ed, as it were, by the soft breeze of early summer, I took my gun, and, 

 accompanied by my excellent brother-in-law, William G. Bakewell, 

 Esq. at that time a youth, walked towards some lovely groves, where 

 many songsters attracted our attention by their joyous melodies. The. 

 woods were all alive with the richest variety, and, divided in choice, we 

 kept going on without shooting at any thing, so great was our admira- 

 tion of every bird that presented itself to our view. As we crossed a nar- 

 row skirt of wood, my young companion spied a nest on a tree of mode- 

 rate height, and, as my eye reached it, we both perceived that the parent 

 bird was sitting in it. Some little consultation took place, as neither of 

 us could determine whether it was a Crow's or a Hawk's nest, and it was 

 resolved that my young friend should climb the tree, and bring down 

 one of the eggs. On reaching the nest, he said the bird, which still re- 

 mained quiet, was a Hawk and unable to fly. I desired him to cover it 

 with his handkerchief, try to secure it, and bring it down, together with 

 the eggs. All this was accomplished without the least difficulty. I 

 looked at it with indescribable pleasure, as I saw it was new to me, and 

 then felt vexed that it was not of a more spirited nature, as it had neither 

 defended its eggs nor itself. It lay quietly in the handkerchief, and I 

 carried it home to my father-in-law's, shewed it to the family, and went 

 to my room, where I instantly began drawing it. The drawing which I 

 then made is at this moment before me, and is dated " Fatland Ford, 

 Pennsylvania, May 27, 1812." 



I put the bird on a stick made fast to my table. It merely moved 

 its feet to grasp the stick, and stood erect, but raised its feathers, and 

 drew in its neck on its shoulders. I passed my hand over it, to smooth 

 the feathers by gentle pressure. It moved not. The plumage remained 



