HARRIS'S BUZZARD. 27 



treraely graceful, light, buoyant, and protracted beyond that of most other 

 hawks. They are, however, devoid of the power of swooping on their 

 quarry, which they procure by semicircular glidings of greater or less extent, 

 according to the situation or nature of the place, over the land or the water, 

 on the branches or trunks of trees, or even through the air, while in the 

 latter they are wont to secure large coleopterous insects. These species are 

 provided with short, strong tarsi, are scarcely able to walk with ease, wander 

 to great distances, and possess very little courage. 



After these long-winged fork-tailed hawks, comes the Marsh Hawk, Falco 

 cyaneus, which, by its easy manner of flying, it being supported by ample 

 wings and tail, is in some degree allied to them, though it is by no means a 

 bird of rapid flight, but one which procures its food by patient industry, and 

 sometimes by surprising its prey. Its style of chase is very inferior to that 

 of those species which I consider as not only the swiftest, but the most ex- 

 pert, active, and persevering marauders. The Marsh Hawk is connected 

 with these by its long and slender tail, and also by its propensity to wander 

 over vast tracts of country. It may be said to swoop or to glide in procuring 

 its prey, which consists both of birds and small quadrupeds, as well as insects, 

 some of the latter of which it even seizes on wing. 



Taking somewhat into consideration the usual low flight of the latter 

 species, I feel induced to place next it the very swiftest of our Hawks, as I 

 am convinced you would consider them, had you witnessed, like me, their 

 manners for many successive years. These are the Goshawk, F. palum- 

 barius, Cooper's Hawk, F. Coopcri, the Pigeon Hawk, F. columbarius, 

 and the Sharp-shinned Hawk, F. fuscus. Though their wings are compara- 

 tively short, somewhat rounded, and rather concave, they have longer bodies 

 and larger tails than any other of our hawks. The tail is used as a rudder, 

 and appears most effectually to aid them in their progress on wing. None 

 of these birds ever pounce on their prey, but secure it by actual pursuit on 

 wing. Industrious in the highest degree, they all hunt for game, instead of 

 remaining perched on a rocky eminence, or on the top branch of a tall tree, 

 waiting the passing or appearance of some object. They traverse the coun- 

 try in every direction, and dash headlong in the wildest manner, until their 

 game being up they follow it with the swiftness of an arrow, overtake it, 

 strike it to the ground with wonderful force, and at once fall to, and devour 

 it. Although the flight of our Passenger Pigeon is rapid and protracted 

 almost beyond belief, aided as this bird is by rather long and sharp wings, as 

 well as an elongated tail, and sustained by well regulated beats, that of the 

 Goshawk or of the other species of this group so very far surpasses it, that 

 they can overtake it with as much ease as that with which the pike seizes 

 a carp. I have often thought that the comparatively long tarsi of these 



