MISSISSIPPI KITE. 



81 



their vision forbids all suspicion of this kind. Tliey may perhaps 

 be engaged, at such times, in mere amusement, as they are ob- 

 served to soar to great heights previous to a storm; or, what is 

 more probable, may both be in pursuit of their respective food. 

 One that he mav reconnoitre a vast extent of surface below, and 

 trace the tainted atmosphere to his favorite carrion; the other in 

 search of those large beetles, or coleopterous insects, that are known 

 often to wing the higher regions of the air ; and which, in the three 

 individuals of this species of Hawk which I examined by dissec- 

 tion, were the only substances found in their stomachs. For seve- 

 ral miles, as I passed near Bayo Manchak, the trees were swarm- 

 ing with a kind of cicada^ or locust, that made a deafening noise; 

 and here I observed numbers of the Hawk now before us sweeping 

 about among the trees like Swallov/s, evidently in pursuit of these 

 locusts; so that insects, it would appear, are the principal food of 

 this species. Yet when we contemplate the beak and talons of this 

 bird, both so sharp and powerful, it is difficult to believe that they 

 were not intended by nature for some more formidable prey than 

 beetles, locusts, or grasshoppers ; and I doubt not but mice, lizards, 

 snakes and small birds, furnish him with an occasional repast. 



This Hawk, tho wounded and precipitated from a vast height, 

 exhibited, in his distress, symptoms of great strength, and an almost 

 unconquerable spirit. I no sooner approached to pick him up than 

 he instantly gave battle, striking rapidly with his claws, wheeling 

 round and round as he lay partly on his rump; and defending him- 

 self with great vigilance and dexterity; while his dark red eye 

 sparkled with rage. Notwithstanding all my caution in seizing 

 him to carry him home, he struck his hind claw into my hand 

 with such force as to penetrate into the bone. Anxious to preserve 

 his life, I endeavoured gently to disengage it; but this made him 

 only contract it the more powerfully, causing such pain that I had 

 no other alternative but that of cutting the sinew of his heel with 

 my penknife. The whole time he lived with me, he seemed to 



VOL. III. X 



