86 GREAT-FOOTED HAWK.
The flight of this bird is of astonishing rapidity. It is scarcely ever
seen sailing, unless after being disappointed in its attempt to secure the
prey which it has been pursuing, and even at such times it merely rises
with a broad spiral circuit, to attain a sufficient elevation to enable it to
reconnoitre a certain space below. It then emits a cry much resembling
that of the Sparrow Hawk, but greatly louder, like that of the European
Kestrel, and flies off swiftly in quest of plunder. The search is often
performed with a flight resembling that of the tame pigeon, until perceiving
an object, it redoubles its flappings, and pursues the fugitive with
a rapidity scarcely to be conceived. Its turnings, windings and cuttings
through the air are now surprising. It follows and nears the timorous
quarry at every turn and back-cutting which the latter attempts.
Arrived within a few feet of the prey, the Falcon is seen protruding his
powerful legs and talons to their full stretch. His wings are for a moment
almost closed; the next instant he grapples the prize, which, if
too weighty to be carried off directly, he forces obliquely toward the
ground, sometimes a hundred yards from where it was seized, to kill it,
and devour it on the spot. Should this happen over a large extent of
Avater, the Falcon drops his prey, and sets off in quest of another. On
the contrary, should it not prove too heavy, the exulting bird carries it
off to a sequestered and secure place. He pursues the smaller Ducks,
Water-hens, and other swimming birds, and if they are not quick in
diving, seizes them, and rises with them from the water. I have seen
this Hawk come at the report of a gun, and carry off a Teal not thirty
steps distant from the sportsman who had killed it, with a daring assurance
as surprising as unexpected. This conduct has been observed by
many individuals, and is a characteristic trait of the species. The largest
duck that I have seen this bird attack and grapple with on the wing is
the Mallard.
The Great-footed Hawk does not however content himself with waterfowl.
He is generally seen following the flocks of Pigeons and even
Blackbirds, causing great terror in their ranks, and forcing them to perform
various aerial evolutions to escape the grasp of his dreaded talons.
For several days I watched one of them that had taken a particular
fancy to some tame pigeons, to secure which it went so far as to enter
their house at one of the holes, seize a bird, and issue by another hole
in an instant, causing such terror among the rest as to render me fearful
GREAT-FOOTED HAWK. 87
that they would abandon the place. However, I fortunately shot the
depredator.
They occasionally feed on dead fish that have floated to the shores or
.sand bars. I saw several of them thus occupied while descending the
Mississippi on a journey undertaken expressly for the purpose of observing
and procuring different specimens of birds, and which lasted four
months, as I followed the windings of that great river, floating down it
only a few miles daily. During that period, I and my companion counted
upwards of fifty of these Hawks, and killed several, among which was
the female represented in the plate now before you, and which was found
to contain in its stomach bones of birds, a few downy feathers, the gizzard
of a Teal, and the eyes and many scales of a fish. It was shot on
on the 26th December 1820. The ovary contained numerous eggs, two
of which were as large as pease.
Whilst in quest of food, the Great-footed Hawk will frequently alight
on the highest dead branch of a tree in the immediate neighbourhood of
such wet or marshy grounds as the Common Snipe resorts to by preference.
His head is seen moving in short starts, as if he were counting
every little space below; and while so engaged, the moment he spies a
Snipe, down he darts like an arrow, making a rustling noise with Ins
wings that may be heard several hundred yards off, seizes the Snipe,
and flies away to some near wood to devour it.
It is a cleanly bird, in respect to feeding. No sooner is the prey
dead than the Falcon turns its belly upward, and begins to pluck it with
his bill, which he does very expertly, holding it meantime quite fast in
his talons ; and as soon as a portion is cleared of feathers, tears the flesh
in large pieces, and swallows it with great avidity. If it is a large bird,
he leaves the refuse parts, but, if small, swallows the whole in pieces.
Should he be approached by an enemy, he rises with it and flies off' into
the interior of the woods, or if he happens to be in a meadow, to some
considerable distance, he being more wary at such times than when he
has alighted on a tree.
The Great-footed Hawk is a heavy, compact, and firmly built bird
for its size, and when arrived at maturity, extremely muscular, with Very
tough flesh. The plumage differs greatly according to age. I have seen
it vary in different individuals, from the deepest chocolate-brown to light
grey. Their grasp is so firm, that should one be hit while perched, and
not shot quite dead, it will cling to the branch until life has departed.