94 



BROAD- WINGED HAWK. 



about, as they usually do, backwards or sideways like a crab among 

 the plumage with great facility. The Fish Hawk, in particular, is 

 greatly pestered with these vermin, which occasionally leave him 

 as suits their convenience. A gentleman who made the experi- 

 ment assured me, that on plunging a live Fish Hawk under water 

 several of these winged ticks remained hovering over the spot, and 

 the instant the Hawk rose above the surface, darted again among 

 his plumage. The experiment was several times made with the 

 like result. As soon, however, as these parasites perceive the dead 

 body of their patron beginning to become cold, they abandon it; 

 and if the person who holds it have his head uncovered, dive in- 

 stantly among his hair, as I have myself frequently experienced; 

 and tho driven from thence, repeatedly return, till they are caught 

 and destroyed. There are various kinds of these ticks : the one 

 found on the present Hawk is figured beside him. The head and 

 thorax were light brown; the legs, six in number, of a bright green, 

 their joints moving almost horizontally, and thus enabling the 

 creature to pass with the greatest ease between the laminae of fea- 

 thers ; the wings were single, of a dark amber color, and twice as 

 long as the body, which widened towards the extremity, where it 

 was slightly indented; feet two clawed. 



This insect lived for several days between the crystal and 

 dial-plate of a watch carried in the pocket; but being placed for 

 a few minutes in the sun, fell into convulsions and died. 



