The Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands, Vol. 1

THE HAWK with the forked tail. original Latin: "ACCIPITER Cauda furcata."

The Swallow-Tail Hawk.

Decorative drop cap 'I' featuring a plant in an ornate pot on a pedestal set against a landscape background.IT weighs fourteen ounces: the Beak black and hooked, without angles on the sides of the upper Mandiblethe upper part of a bird's beak, as in other Hawks; the Eyes very large, and black, with a red Iristhe colored ring around the pupil of the eye: the Head, Neck, Breast and Belly white; the Upper-part of the Wing and Back, dark purple; but more dusky towards the lower parts, with a tincture of green; the Wings long, in proportion to the Body; they being extended, are four foot; the Tail dark purple, mix'd with green, remarkably forked, the utmost and longest feather being eight inches longer than the middlemost, which is shortest.

Like Swallows, they continue long on the wing, catching, as they fly, Beetles, Flies and other Insects, from trees and bushes. They are said to prey upon Lizards and other Serpents; which has given them (by some) the name of Snake-Hawk. I believe they are Birds of passagemigratory birds that travel according to the seasons, not having seen any of them in winter.

The Swallow-Tail Hawk. original French: "Epervier à queue d'hirondelle."

Decorative drop cap 'C' within a circular frame depicting a landscape with a river, a bridge, and a castle tower.THIS bird weighs fourteen ounces. It has a black and hooked beak, but it has no notches on the sides of the upper mandible like other hawks. It has very large, black eyes, and a red iris; the head, neck, chest, and belly are white, the top of the wing and the back are a deep purple, but more brownish towards the bottom, with a tint of green. The wings are long in proportion to the body and are four feet when they are spread; the tail is a deep purple mixed with green, and very forked, the longest feather on the sides being eight inches longer than the shortest one in the middle.

They fly for a long time like swallows and thus catch beetles, flies, and other insects on trees and bushes while flying: they are said to make their prey of lizards and snakes, which is why some have called them Snake-Hawks original French: "Eperviers à serpents.". I believe they are migratory birds original French: "oiseaux de passage." as I have never seen any during the winter.