so different, should so frequently associate together in air, I am at a loss to comprehend. We cannot for a moment suppose them mutually deceived by the similarity of each others flight: the keenness of their vision forbids all suspicion of this kind. They may perhaps be engaged, at such times, in mere amusement, as they are observed to soar to great heights previous to a storm; or, what is more probable, may both be in pursuit of their respective food. One that he may reconnoitre a vast extent of surface below, and trace the tainted atmosphere to his favourite carrion; the other in search of those large beetles, or coleopterous insects, that are known often to wing the higher regions of the air; and which, in the three individuals of this species of Hawk which I examined by dissection, were the only substances found in their stomachs. For several miles, as I passed near Bayo Manchak, the trees were swarming with a kind of Cicada, or locust, that made a deafening noise; and here I observed numbers of the Hawk now before us, sweeping about among the trees like Swallows, evidently in pursuit of these locusts; so that insects, it would appear, are the principal food of this species. Yet when we contemplate the beak and talons of this bird, both so sharp and powerful, it is difficult to believe that they were not intended by nature for some more formidable prey than beetles, locusts, or grasshoppers; and I doubt not but mice, lizards, snakes and small birds, furnish him with an occasional repast.

This Hawk, though wounded and precipitated from a vast height, exhibited, in his distress, symptons of great strength, and an almost unconquerable spirit. I no sooner approached to pick him up, than he instantly gave battle, striking rapidly with his claws, wheeling round and round as he lay partly on his rump; and defending himself with great vigilance and dexterity; while his dark red eye sparkled with rage. Notwithstanding all my caution in seizing him, to carry him home, he struck his hind claw into my hand with such force as to penetrate into the bone. Anxious to preserve his life, I endeavoured gently to disengage it; but this made him only contract it the

more powerfully, causing such pain that I had no other alternative but that of cutting the sinew of his heel with my penknife. The whole time he lived with me, he seemed to watch every movement I made; erecting the feathers of his hind-head, and eyeing me with savage fierceness; considering me, no doubt, as the greatest savage of the two. What effect education might have had on this species, under the tutorship of some of the old European professors of Falconry, I know not; but if extent of wing, and energy of character, and ease and rapidity of flight, would have been any recommendations to royal patronage, this species possesses all these in a very eminent degree.

The long pointed wings, and forked tail, point out the affinity of this bird to that family, or subdivision of the Falco genus, distinguished by the name of Kites, which sail without flapping the wings, and eat from their talons as they glide along.

The Mississippi Kite measures fourteen inches in length, and thirty-six inches, or three feet, in extent! The head, neck, and exterior webs of the secondaries, are of a hoary white; the lower parts a whitish ash; bill, cere, lores, and narrow line round the eye, black; back, rump, scapulars, and wing-coverts, dark blackish ash; wings very long and pointed, the third quill the longest; the primaries are black, marked down each side of the shaft with reddish sorrel; primary coverts also slightly touched with the same; all the upper plumage at the roots is white; the scapulars are also spotted with white; but this cannot be perceived unless the feathers be blown aside; tail slightly forked, and, as well as the rump, jet black; legs vermilion, tinged with orange and becoming blackish towards the toes; claws black; iris of the eye dark red, pupil black.

This was a male. With the female, which is expected soon from that country, I shall, in a future volume, communicate such further information relative to their manners and incubation, as I may be able to collect.

SPECIES 13. FALCO LAGOPUS*

ROUGH-LEGGED FALCON.

[Plate XXXIII.-Fig. 1.]

Arct. Zool. p. 200, No. 92.-LATHAM, 1, 75.—PEALE'S Museum, No. 116.

THIS handsome species, notwithstanding its formidable size and appearance, spends the chief part of the winter among our low swamps and meadows, watching for mice, frogs, lame ducks, and other inglorious game. Twenty or thirty individuals of this family have regularly taken up their winter quarters, for several years past, and probably long anterior to that date, in the meadows below this city, between the rivers Delaware and Schuylkill, where they spend their time watching along the dry banks like cats; or sailing low and slowly over the surface of the ditches. Though rendered shy from the many attempts made to shoot them, they seldom fly far, usually from one tree to another, at no great distance, making a loud squeeling as they arise, something resembling the neighing of a young colt; though in a more shrill and savage tone.

The bird represented in the plate was one of this fraternity; and several others of the same association have been obtained and examined during the present winter. On comparing these with Pennant's description, referred to above, they correspond so exactly, that no doubts remain of their being the same species. Towards the beginning of April, these birds abandon this part of the country, and retire to the north to breed.

They are common during winter in the lower parts of Maryland, and numerous in the extensive meadows below Newark,

We add the following synonymes: LATH. Ind. Orn. p. 19.-GMEL. Syst. 1, p. 260.-TEMM. Man. d'Orn. 1, p. 65.

New Jersey; are frequent along the Connecticut river; and, according to Pennant, inhabit England, Norway and Lapmark. Their flight is slow and heavy. They are often seen coursing over the surface of the meadows, long after sunset, many times in pairs. They generally roost on the tall, detached trees, that rise from these low grounds; and take their stations, at daybreak, near a ditch, bank, or hay-stack, for hours together, watching, with patient vigilance, for the first unlucky frog, mouse or lizard, to make its appearance. The instant one of these is descried, the Hawk, sliding into the air, and taking a circuitous course along the surface, sweeps over the spot, and in an instant has his prey grappled and sprawling in the air.

The Rough-legged Hawk measures twenty-two inches in length, and four feet two inches in extent; cere, sides of the mouth, and feet, rich yellow; legs feathered to the toes with brownish yellow plumage, streaked with brown, femorals the same; toes comparatively short, claws and bill blue black; iris of the eye bright amber; upper part of the head pale ochre, streaked with brown; back and wings chocolate, each feather edged with bright ferruginous; first four primaries nearly black about the tips, edged externally with silvery in some lights; rest of the quills dark chocolate; lower side, and interior vanes, white; tail-coverts white; tail rounded, white, with a broad band of dark brown near the end, and tipt with white; body below, and breast, light yellow ochre, blotched and streaked with chocolate. What constitutes a characteristic mark of this bird, is a belt or girdle, of very dark brown, passing round the belly, just below the breast, and reaching under the wings to the rump; head very broad, and bill uncommonly small, suited to the humility of its prey.

The female is much darker both above and below, particularly in the belt or girdle, which is nearly black; the tail-coverts are also spotted with chocolate; she is also something larger.

SPECIES 14. FALCO NIGER.*

BLACK HAWK.

[Plate LIII.-Fig. 1.]

PEALE's Museum, No. 404.

THIS, and the other two figures in the same plate, are reduced from the large drawings, which were taken of the exact size of nature, to one half their dimensions. I regret the necessity which obliges me to contract the figures of these birds, by which much of the grandeur of the originals is lost; particular attention, however, has been paid, in the reduction, to the accurate representation of all their parts.

This is a remarkably shy and wary bird, found most frequently along the marshy shores of our large rivers; feeds on mice, frogs and moles; sails much, and sometimes at a great height; has been seen to kill a duck on wing; sits by the side of the marshes, on a stake, for an hour at a time, in an almost perpendicular position, as if dozing; flies with great ease, and occasionally with great swiftness, seldom flapping the wings; seems particularly fond of river shores, swamps and marshes; is most numerous with us in winter, and but rarely seen in summer; is remarkable for the great size of its eye, length of its wings, and shortness of its toes. The breadth of its head is

likewise uncommon.

The Black Hawk is twenty-one inches long, and four feet two inches in extent; bill bluish black; cere and sides of the mouth orange yellow; feet the same; eye very large, iris bright hazel; cartilage overhanging the eye, prominent, of a dull greenish colour; general colour above, brown black, slightly

As Wilson suspected, this is the F. Sancli Johannis of Latham. Ind. Orn. p. 34, No 14.-GиEL. Syst. 1, p. 273, No. 92. F. Spadiceus? Id. No. 91.