44 
THE BROAD-WINGED BUZZARD. 
together with the eggs. All this was accomplished without the least 
difficulty. I looked at it with indescribable pleasure, as-I saw it was new to 
me, and then felt vexed that it was not of a more spirited nature, as it had 
neither defended its eggs nor itself;- It lay quietly in the handkerchief, and 
I carried it home to my father-in-law’s, shewed it to the family, and went to 
my room, where I instantly began drawing it. The drawing which I then 
made is at this moment before me, and is dated “ Fatland Ford, Pennsylvania, 
May 27, 1812.” 
I put the bird on a stick made fast to my table. It merely moved its feet 
to grasp the stick, and stood erect, but raised its feathers, and drew in its 
neck on its shoulders. I passed my hand over it, to smooth the feathers by 
gentle pressure. It moved not. The plumage remained as I wished it. Its 
eye, directed towards mine, appeared truly sorrowful. I measured thelength 
of its bill with the compass, began my outlines, continued measuring part 
after part as I went on, and finished the drawing, without the bird ever 
moving once. My wife sat at my side, reading to me at intervals, but our 
conversation had frequent reference to the singularity of the incident. The 
drawing being finished, I raised the window, laid hold of the poor bird, and 
launched it into the air, where it sailed off until out of my sight, without 
uttering a single cry, or deviating from its course. The drawing from which 
the Plate is taken, was subsequently made, as I had to wait until I should 
procure a male, to render it complete. 
The-Broad-winged Hawk is seldom seen in Louisiana, and I believe never 
except during the severe winters that occasionally occur in our Middle and 
Eastern Districts. I have observed that its usual range seldom extends far 
west of the Alleghany Mountains; but in Virginia, Maryland, and all the 
States to the eastward of these, it is by no means a rare species. I have shot 
several in the Jerseys, the State of New York, near the Falls of Niagara, 
and also in the Great Pine Forest. 
Its flight, which is easy and light, is performed in circles. When elevated 
in the air, it is fond of partially closing its wings for a moment, and thus 
gliding to a short distance, as if for amusement. It seldom chases other birds 
of prey, but is itself frequently teased by the Little Sparrow-hawk, the 
King-bird, or the Martin. It generally attack birds of weak nature, particu- 
larly very young chickens and ducklings, and during winter feeds on insects, 
and other small animals. It flies singly, unless during the breeding season, 
and after feeding retires -to the top of some small tree, within the woods, 
where it rests for hours together. It is easily approached. When wounded 
by a shot so as to be unable to fly, it, like most birds of its tribe, throws itself 
on its back, opens its bill, protrudes its tongue, utters a hissing sound, erects 
the top-feathers of its head, and defends itself by reiterated attempts to lay 
