RED-TAILED HAWK, OR BUZZARD. 103 



themselves to be handled with impunity by those who 

 feed them. The older birds sometimes contest with each 

 other in the air about their prey, and nearly or wholly 

 descend to the earth grappled in each others talons. 

 Though this species has the general aspect of the Buzzard, 

 its manners are very similar to those of the Goshawk ; it 

 is equally fierce and predatory, prowling around the farm 

 often when straitened for food, and seizing, now and then, 

 a hen or chicken, which it snatches by making a lateral 

 approach; it sweeps along near the surface of the ground, 

 and grasping his prey in his talons, bears it away to 

 devour in some place of security. These depredations on 

 the farm-yard happen, however, only in the winter ; at 

 all other seasons this is one of the shyest and most diffi- 

 cult birds to approach. They will at times pounce upon 

 rabbits, and considerable sized birds, particularly Larks, 

 and have been observed in the southern states persever- 

 ingly to pursue squirrels from bough to bough until they 

 are overtaken and seized in their talons. They are 

 frequently seen near wet meadows where mice, moles, 

 and frogs are prevalent : and also feed upon lizards, ap- 

 pearing indeed, often content with the most humble game. 

 They usually associate in pairs, and seem much at- 

 tached to each other ; yet they often find it conven- 

 ient and profitable to separate in hunting their prey, 

 about which they would readily quarrel, if brought into 

 contact. Though a good deal of their time passes in in- 

 dolence, while perched in some tall and deadened tree, 

 yet at others they may be seen beating the ground as 

 they fly over it in all directions in quest of game. On 

 some occasions they amuse themselves by ascending to 

 a vast elevation like the aspiring Eagle. On a fine 

 evening, about the middle of January, in South Carolina, 

 I observed one of these birds leave his withered perch, 



