92 



BROAD-WINGED HAWK. 

 FALCO PENNSYLVANICUS. 

 [Plate LrV.— Fig. 1.] 



Pe ale's Museum^ JV'o. 407. 



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THIS new species, as well as the rest of the figures on the 

 same plate, is represented of the exact size of life. The Hawk 

 was shot on the sixth of May, in Mr. Bartram's woods, near the 

 Schuylkill, and was afterwards presented to Mr. Peale, in whose 

 collection it now remains. It was perched on the dead limb of a 

 high tree, feeding on something which was afterwards found to be 

 the meadow mouse (figured in plate L.). On my approach it ut- 

 tered a whining kind of whistle, and flew off to another tree where 

 I followed and shot it. Its great breadth of wing, or width of the 

 secondaries, and also of its head and body when compared with 

 its length, struck me as peculiarities. It seemed a remarkably 

 strong-built bird, handsomely marked, and was altogether unknown 

 to me. Mr. Bartram, who examined it very attentively, declared he 

 had never before seen such a Hawk. On the afternoon of the next 

 day I observed another, probably its mate or companion, and cer- 

 tainly one of the same species, sailing about over the same woods. 

 Its motions were in wide circles, with unmoving wings, the exterior 

 outline of which seemed a complete semicircle. I was extremely 

 anxious to procure this also if possible ; but it was attacked and 

 driven away by a King-bird before I could effect my purpose, and 

 I have never since been fortunate enough to meet with another. 

 On dissecting the one which I had shot it proved to be a male. 



In size this Hawk agrees, nearly, with the Buzzardet^ (Falco 

 Albidus) of Turton, described also by Pennant, (Arct. Zool. No. 



