66 
BROAD-WINGED HAWK. 
duced a full-sized figure of this lizard, -wliicli is known in many parts 
of the country by the name of the Swift. 
Species X. FALCO PENNSYLVANICUS* 
BROAD-WINGED HAWK. 
[Plate LIV. Fig. 1.] 
Tins new species, as well as the rest of the figures in the same plate, 
is represented of the exact size of life. The Hawk was shot on the 
sixth of May, in Bartram's woods, near the Schuylkill, and was after- 
wards presented to Mr. Peale. It was perched upon the dead limb of 
a hich tree, feeding on somethino;, which was afterwards found to be 
the meadow mouse, figured in Plate L. On my approach, it uttered 
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 certainly 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 Avhich I had shot, it 
proved to be a male. 
In size this Hawk agrees, nearly, with the Buzzardet [Falco alhidus) 
of Turton, described also by Pennant ; (Arct. Zool. N. 109.) but 
either the descriptions of these authors are very inaccurate, the change 
of color which that bird undergoes very great, or the present is altoge- 
ther a different species. Until, however, some other specimens of this 
Hawk come under my observation, I can only add to the figure here 
* The name Pennsijloanicus, was given by Wilson to this bird, through inadvertence, 
behaving already given that name to the Slate-colored Hawk, which is a distinct 
species from the present, as Wilson was well aware. Mr. Ord. in the reprint of 
this work, called it F. latisimus. But should the Slate-colored Hawk [F. Pennsylva- 
nicus) and the Sharp-shinned Hawk [F. veJox), prove to be the same species, then the 
name Pennsijlvanicus must be retained for this species, that of velox being adopted, 
for the former. 
