BLACK HAWK. 
79 
female is much darker, both above and below, 
tile in the belt, or girdle, which is nearly black ; 
IL coverts are also spotted with chocolate ; she is 
Something larger. 
.A 
-Vrci-B, WILSON PALCO SANCTI-JOIIANSIS, G5IELIN. 
black hawk. 
WILSON, PLATE LIU. FIG. 1. ADULT BIRD. 
is a remarkably shy and wary bird, found most 
along the marshy shores of our large rivers ; 
t% mice, frogs, and moles ; sails mucli, and some- 
Og “■ great height; has been seen to kill a duck 
an sits by the side of the marshes on a stake for 
an at a time, in an almost perpendicular position, 
irijV doEing : Hies with great ease, and occasionally 
Parr swiftness, seldom Happing the wings ; seems 
in fond of river shores, swamps, and marshes ; 
numerous with us in winter, and but rarely 
summer; is remarkable for the great size of its 
lei - — 
ur^„,'Dgth of its wings, and shortness of its toes. The 
*'> of its head is likewise uncommon. 
Waek hawk is taventy-one inches long, and four 
8i(l^ "'9 inches in extent ; bill, bluish black ; cere, and 
Veiy Ihe mouth, orange yellow ; feet the same; eye, 
the p ^'■ge ; iris, bright hazel ; cartilage, overhanging 
Col(, 5'^®! prominent, of a dull greenish colour ; general 
Hif n Wa'*. slightly dashed with dirty 
hoj.® » nape of the neck, pure white under the surface ; 
"''ite; whole lower parts, black, with slight 
of brown; and a few circular touches ot the 
the femorals; legs, feathered to the toes, and 
hey , fotiched with brownish ; the wings reach rather 
Hit of ‘'‘0 primaries are 
(leog, O" their inner vanes; tail, rounded at the end, 
kliS crossed with live narrow bands of pure 
• and broadly tipt with dull white ; vent, black. 
