BLACK HAWK. 



85 



which they belong; for this family likeness is never lost in the 

 living bird, tho in stuffed skins and preserved specimens it is fre- 

 quently entirely obliterated. I have no hesitation, therefore, in 

 giving it as my opinion, that the present and preceding birds are 

 of the same species, differing only in age, both being males. Of 

 the female I am unable at present to speak. 



Pennant in his account of the Chocolate-colored Hawk, which 

 is very probably the same with the present and preceding species, 

 observes, that it preys much on Ducks, sitting on a rock, and 

 watching their rising, when it instantly strikes them. 



While traversing our sea coast and salt marshes, between 

 Cape May and Egg Harbour, I was every where told of a Duck 

 Hawk J noted for striking down Ducks on wing, tho flying with their 

 usual rapidity. Many extravagancies were mingled with these ac- 

 counts, particularly, that it always struck the Ducks with its breast 

 bone, which was universally said to project several inches, and to 

 be strong and sharp. From the best verbal descriptions I could 

 obtain of this Hawk, I have strong suspicions that it is no other 

 than the Black Hawk^ as its wings were said to be long and very 

 pointed, the color very dark, the size nearly alike, and several 

 other traits given that seemed particularly to belong to this spe= 

 cies. As I have been promised specimens of this celebrated Hawk 

 next winter, a short time will enable me to determine the matter 

 more satisfactorily. Few gunners in that quarter are unacquaint= 

 ed with the Duck Haivkj as it often robs them of their wounded 

 birds before they are able to reach them. 



VOL. VI 



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