44 
BIRDS OF PREY. 
every morning of the season. This plaintive echoing note 
resembles somewhat the garrulous complaint of the Jay, kee-od, 
kec-od, kec-od, continued with but little intermission sometimes 
for near twenty minutes. At length it becomes loud and im- 
patient ; but on being distantly answered by the mate, the 
sound softens and becomes plaintive like kee-oo. This morn- 
ing call is uttered most loudly and incessantly by the male, 
inquiring for his adventurous mate, whom the uncertain result 
of the chase has perhaps separated from him for the night. 
As this species is noways shy, and very easily approached, I 
have had the opportunity of studying it closely. At length, 
but in no haste, I observed the female approach and take her 
station on the same lofty, decayed limb with her companion, 
who, grateful for this attention, plumed the feathers of his 
mate with all the assiduous fondness of a Dove. Intent upon 
her meal, however, she soon flew off to a distance, while the 
male still remained on his perch, dressing up his beautiful 
feathers for near half an hour, often shaking his tail, like some 
of the lesser birds, and occasionally taking an indifferent sur- 
vey of the hosts of small chiqring birds which surrounded him, 
who followed without alarm their occupation of gleaning seeds 
and berries for subsistence. I have occasionally observed 
them perched on low bushes and stakes in the rice-fields, re- 
maining thus for half an hour at a time, and then darting after 
their prey as it comes in sight. I saw one descend upon a 
Plover, as I thought, and Wilson remarks their living on these 
birds. Larks, and Sandpipers. The same pair that I watched 
also hung on the rear of a flock of cow-buntings which were 
feeding and scratching around them. They sometimes attack 
squirrels, as I have been informed, and Wilson charges them 
with preying also upon Ducks. 
I never observed them to soar, at least in winter, their time 
being passed very much in indolence and in watching for 
their game. Their flight is almost as easy and noiseless as 
that of the Owl. In the early part of the month of March 
they were breeding in West Florida, and seemed to choose 
the densest thickets and not to build at any great height from 
