44 THE BROAD-WINGED BUZZARD. 



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 as I wished it. Its 

 eye, directed towards mine, appeared truly sorrowful. I measured the length 

 of its bill with the compass, began my outlines, continued measuring part 

 after part as I went on, and finished the drawing, without the bird ever 

 moving once. My wife sat at my side, reading to me at intervals, but our 

 conversation had frequent reference to the singularity of the incident. The 

 drawing being finished, I raised the window, laid hold of the poor bird, and 

 launched it into the air, where it sailed off until out of my sight, without 

 uttering a single cry, or deviating from its course. The drawing from which 

 the Plate is taken, was subsequently made, as I had to wait until I should 

 procure a male, to render it complete. 



The Broad-winged Hawk is seldom seen in Louisiana, and I believe never 

 except during the severe winters that occasionally occur in our Middle and 

 Eastern Districts. I have observed that its usual range seldom extends far 

 west of the Alleghany Mountains; but in Virginia, Maryland, and all the 

 States to the eastward of these, it is by no means a rare species. I have shot 

 several in the Jerseys, the Slate of New York, near the Falls of Niagara, and 

 also in the Great Pine Forest. 



Its flight, which is easy and light, is performed in circles. When elevated 

 in the air, it is fond of partially closing its wings for a moment, and thus 

 gliding to a short distance, as if for amusement. It seldom chases other birds 

 of prey, but is itself frequently teased by the Little Sparrow-hawk, the 

 King-bird, or the Martin. It generally attacks birds of weak nature, particu- 

 larly very young chickens and ducklings, and during winter feeds on insects 

 and other small animals. It flies singly, unless during the breeding season, 

 and after feeding retires to the top of some small tree, within the woods, 

 where it rests for hours together. It is easily approached. When wounded 

 by a shot so as to be unable to fly, it, like most birds of its tribe, throws itself 

 on its back, opens its bill, protrudes its tongue, utters a hissing sound, erects 

 the top-feathers of its head, and defends itself by reiterated attempts to lay 



