HAWKING-BIEDS. 
being performed by means of tbe breast, which vulgar opinion 
has armed with a projecting bone, adapted to the purpose. 
But this cannot be the fact, as the breastbone of this bird 
does not differ from that of others of the same tribe, which 
would not admit of so violent a concussion. 
“ When the water -fowl perceive the approach of their enemy, 
a universal alarm pervades their ranks ; even man himself, with 
his engine of destruction, is not more terrible. But the effect 
is different. When the latter is beheld, the whole atmosphere 
is enlivened with the whistling of wings ; when the former is 
recognized, not a duck is to be seen in the air ; they all speed 
to the water, and there remain until the hawk has passed 
them, diving the moment he comes near them. It is worthy 
of remark, that the peregrine falcon will seldom, if ever, strike 
over the water, unless it be frozen ; well knowing that it would 
be difficult to secure his quarry. 
“ WTien the sportsmen perceive the hawk knock down a 
duck, they frequently disappoint him of it, by being the first to 
secure it ; and as one evil turn (according to the maxim of the 
multitude) deserves another, our hero takes ample revenge on 
them, at every opportunity, by robbing them of their game, 
the hard-earned fruit of their labour. 
“ The duck-hawk, it is said, often follows the steps of the 
gunner, knowing that the ducks will be aroused on the wing, 
which will afford it an almost certain chance of success. 
“We have been informed that those ducks which are struck 
down have their backs lacerated from the rump to the neck. 
If this be the fact, it is a fact that the hawk employs only its 
talons, which are long and stout, in the operation. One re- 
spectable inhabitant of Cape May told us that he has seen 
the hawk strike from below. * # * ^ * # * * # =& 
In the spring, the duck-hawk retires to the recesses of the 
gloomy cedar swamps, on the tall trees of which it constructs 
its nest and rears its young secure from all molestation. In 
these wilds, which present obstacles almost insuperable to the 
foot of man, the screams of this bird, occasionally mingled 
with the hoarse tones of the heron and the hooting of the 
great horned owl, echoing through the dreary solitude, arouse 
in the imagination all the frightful imagery of desolation.” 
After many long and laborious searches in quest of this 
hawk, which proved unsuccessful, the great American orni- 
thologist was delighted by a present of a specimen from Egg 
Harbour, and was thus enabled' to add his own invaluable 
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