68 
FALCO VELOX. 
IS. FALCO FELOX. 
SHAUP-SHINNED HAWK. 
WILSON, PLATE XLV. PIG. I. YOUNG BIRD. 
This is a bold and daring' species, hitherto iinknoifi* 
to naturalists. The only hawk we have which “F 
proaches near it in colour is the pigeou hawk, already 
described in this work; but there are such strikid^ 
differences in the present, not only in liolour, but ' 
other respects, as to point out decisively its claims ^ 
rank as a distinct .species. Its long and slender kF 
and toes; its red fiery eye, feathered to the eyelids; 
its triangular gi'ooved nostril, and length of tail, are ^ 
different from the pigeon haw'k, whose legs are shof” 
its eyes dark hazel, surrounded with a broad bare y‘^k?'i, 
skin, and its nostrils small and circular, centered 
a slender point that rises in it like the pistil of a 
There is no haw’k mentioned by Mr Pennant cither fs 
inhabiting Europe or America, agreeing with this, 
may, therefore, with confidence, pronounce it a 
descript; and have chosen a very singular pcculiariv 
which it possesses for its specific appellation. 
This hawk was shot on the hanks of the Schuylk’'^ 
near Mr Bartram’s. Its singularity of flight surprk^j 
me long before I succeeded in procuring it. It seem|^ 
to throw itself from one quarter of the heavens to 
tli« 
■tbi 
instad*'^ 
other, with prodifflous velocity, inclining to the 
swept suddenly dowTi into a thicket, and insta® j 
reappeared with a small bird in its talons. This fc** ■ 
saw it twice perform, so that it was not merely an a*^ 
dental manoeuvre. The rapidity and seeming vioPd i 
of these zig-zag excursions were really remarkable. 
appeared to me to be for the purpose of seizing 
prey b^ sudden surprise and main force of fligkf 
kept this hawk alive for several days, and was 
I might be able to cure him ; but he efied of his wom* 
