GREAT-FOOTED HAWK. 
287 
after day did we traverse the salt marshes, and explore the ponds 
and estuaries, where the web-footed tribes assemble in immense 
multitudes, in the hope of obtaining the imperial depredator ; 
even all the shooters of the district were summoned to our aid, 
with the assurance of a great reward if they procured him, but 
without success. At length in the month of December, 1812, to 
the unspeakable joy of Wilson, he received from Egg-harbour a 
fine specimen of the far-famed Duck Hawk ; which was discovered, 
contrary to his expectations, to be of a species which he had never 
before beheld. 
If we were to repeat all the anecdotes which have been related 
to us of the achievements of the Duck Hawk, they would swell our 
pages at the expense, probably, of our reputation. Naturalists 
should be always on their guard when they find themselves com- 
pelled to resort to the observations of others, and record nothing 
as fact which has not been submitted to the temperate delibera- 
tions of reason. The neglect of this procedure has been a princi- 
pal cause why errors and absurdities have so frequently deformed 
the pages of works of science, which, like a plane mirror, ought to 
refipct only the true images of nature. 
From the best sources of information, we learn that this spe- 
cies is adventurous and powerful ; that it darts upon its prey with 
astonishing velocity ; and that it strikes with its formidable feet, 
permitting the duck to fall previous to securing it. The circum- 
stance of the Hawk’s never carrying the duck off on striking it, 
has given rise to the belief of that service being performed by 
means of the breast, which vulgar opinion has armed with a pro- 
jecting bone, adapted to the purpose. But this cannot he the fact, 
as the breast bone of this bird does not differ from that of others 
of the same tribe, which would not admit of so violent a concus- 
sion. 
When the water fowl perceive the approach of their enemy, 
a universal alarm pervades their ranks ; even man himself, with 
