BROAD-WINGED HAWK. 
295 
Schuylkill, and was afterwards presented to Mr Peale, in whose 
collection it now remains. It was perched on the dead limb of 
a high tree, feeding on something, which was afterwards found 
to be the meadow mouse, (figured in Plate L.) On my 
approach, it uttered a whining kind of whistle, and flew off to 
another tree, where I followed and shot it. Its great breadth 
of wing, or width of the secondaries, and also of its head and 
body, when compared with its length, struck me as peculia- 
rities. It seemed a remarkably strong-built bird, handsomely 
marked, and was altogether unknown to me. Mr Bartram, 
who examined it very attentively, declared he had never before 
seen such a Hawk. On the afternoon of the next day, I observed 
another, probably its mate or companion, and certainly one of 
the same species, sailing about over the same woods. Its 
motions were in wide circles, with unmoving wings, the 
exterior outline of which seemed a complete semicircle. I 
was extremely anxious to procure this also if possible ; but it 
was attacked and driven away by a King-bird before I could 
effect my purpose, and I have never since been fortunate 
enough to meet with another. On dissection, the one which 
I had shot proved to be a male. 
In size this Hawk agrees, nearly, with the Buzzardet ( Falco 
albidus) of Turton, described also by Pennant;* but either 
the descriptions of these authors are very inaccurate, the 
change of colour which that bird undergoes very great, or the 
present is altogether a different species. Until, however, 
some other specimens of this Hawk come under my observa- 
tion, I can only add to the figure here given, and which is a 
good likeness of the original, the following particulars of its 
size and plumage : — 
Length, fourteen inches ; extent, thirty-three inches ; bill, 
Hawk, and Tyrant Flycatcher. It feeds on animals and birds, and also on 
frogs and snakes ; breeds on trees, the nest is placed near the stem or trunk, 
and is composed of dry thistles, and lined with numerous small roots and 
large feathers ; the eggs are four or five, of a dull grayish white, blotched 
with dark brown Ed. 
* Arctic Zoology , No. 109. 
