26 

 Do Hawks Drink? 



We observe that information is solicited on this subject by some 

 of our English naturalists, and we lay the evidence, pro and con, 

 before our readers, trusting that they will favour u* with their 

 opinions, where they result from actual experience. 



Audubon, in his " Ornithological Biography," vol. i. page 89, 

 speaking of the Great-footed Hawk, (Falco peregrirms), says, 

 "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 water, and drink 

 in a continued manner, as pigeons are known to do." A writer in 

 vol. iv. page 138 of the "Naturalist," corroborates Audubon's asser- 

 tion — at any rate with regard to the kestrel and the merlin. 



We are of opinion that the hawk tribe do not invariably drink, 

 particularly those of this country. A young sparrow-hawk was 

 brought to us about two years since, which was kept in a garden for 

 six months, without having access to any fluid whatever beyond 

 that obtained from the raw meat given him for his morning meal. 

 To test his powers of abstaining, we placed before him one sum- 

 mer's morning a pan of water, into which he plunged instantane- 

 ously, and remained standing in it, on one leg, for a considerable 

 time, without attempting to drink. As the winter approached the 

 bath was neglected altogether. 



Thus far our own opinion, confirmed too by the fact, that Aus- 

 tralian birds are enabled to exist with the smallest quantity of 

 water, often indeed without any; in confirmation of which we cull 

 from " The Dovecote and the Aviary," before mentioned, which no 

 naturalist's shelf should be without, some interesting facts on the 

 power which the pigeon and kingfisher possess of abstaining from 

 water; and the author remarks that "a similar power of abstinence 

 is to a degree enjoyed by other inhabitants of the same terrible 

 wastes — for which the words arid, desert, inhospitable, are far too 

 feeble epithets. The Talpero (HapatoHs Mitchcllii), an animal 

 with many of the habits of our rabbit, but not much larger than a 

 mouse, must live for many months together without water, feeding 



