THE GREAT-FOOTED HAWK. 87 



This species visits Louisiana during the winter months only; for although 

 I have observed it mating then, it generally disappears a few days after, and 

 in a fortnight later none can be seen. It is scarce in the Middle States, 

 where, as well as in the Southern Districts, it lives along water-courses, and 

 in the neighbourhood of the shores of the sea and inland lakes. I should 

 think that they breed in the United States, having shot a pair in the month 

 of August near the Falls of Niagara. It is extremely tenacious of life, and 

 if not wounded in the wings, though mortally so in the body, it flies to the 

 last gasp, and does not fall until life is extinct. I never saw one of them 

 attack a quadruped, although I have frequently seen them perched within 

 sight of squirrels, which I thought they might easily have secured, had they 

 been so inclined. 



Once when nearing the coast of England, being then about a hundred 

 and fifty miles distant from it, in the month of July, I obtained a pair of 

 these birds, which had come on board our vessel, and had been shot there. 

 I examined them with care, and found no difference between them and those 

 which I had shot in America. They are at present scarce in England, where 

 I have seen only a few. In London, some individuals of the species resort 

 to the cupola of St. Paul's Cathedral, and the towers of Westminster Abbey, 

 to roost, and probably to breed. I have seen them depart from these places 

 at day dawn, and return in the evening. 



The achievements of this species are well known in Europe, where it is 

 even at the present day trained for the chase. Whilst on a visit at Dalmahoy, 

 the seat of the Earl of Morton, near Edinburgh, I had the pleasure of seeing 

 a pair of these birds hooded, and with small brass bells on their legs, in 

 excellent training. They were the property of that nobleman. 



These birds sometimes roost in the hollows of trees. I saw one resorting 

 for weeks every night to a hole in a dead sycamore, near Louisville, in Ken- 

 tucky. It generally came to the place a little before sunset, alighted on the 

 dead branches, and in a short time after flew into the hollow, where it spent 

 the night, and from whence I saw it issuing at dawn. I have known them 

 also retire for the same purpose to the crevices of high cliffs, on the banks of 

 Green River in the same state. One winter, when I had occasion to cross 

 the Homochitta River, in the State of Mississippi, I observed these Hawks 

 in greater numbers than I had ever before seen. 



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 the water, and drink in a continued manner, as Pigeons 

 are known to do. 



