200 BIRDS OF ONTARIO. 



Hab. — Eastern North Ameiica, west to the Oreat Plains. 

 Nest, placed on a high tree, composed of sticks, twigs, grass, moss, etc. 

 Eggs, two to four, dull white, sometimes blotched with rich brown of 

 <lifferent shades. 



This is ;i large and powerful bird, strong of wing and stout of 

 limb, Ijut incapable of performing the feats of dexterity common to 

 the hawks and falcons. It is most frequently seen sitting bolt 

 upright on a stub in a field, or V)y the edge of the woods, carefully 

 scrutinizing the ground below in search of the small (juadrupeds on 

 Avhich it feeds. It is resident in Ontario, ha\ ing been seen both in 

 summer and winter, but is most frequently observed during the 

 period of migration in spring and fall, from which it may l)e inferred 

 that many individuals spend the winter farther south. Occasionally, 

 in spring, this species may be seen singly, or in pairs, soaring to a 

 vast height, sailing round in wide circles, apparently enjoying the 

 warm sunshine and the return of life to the landscape l^elow. • 



The Red-tail breeds in Southern Ontario, is generally distributed 

 throughout the Province, and is included in the list of birds observed 

 by Prof. Macoun in the North-West. 



It is one of the " hen-hawks " which ha\ e generally lieen supposed 

 to live on game and poultry, but recent investigations show that it 

 does not touch either, save when sorelj' pressed with hunger, and 

 then it will eat carrion sooner than starve. Its principal food con- 

 sists of the smaller mammals and reptiles, and this fact entitles it to 

 the protection of the farmer. It has been placed in Class h, for the 

 good it does is supposed to l)e in excess of the evil. 



BUTEO BOREALIS CALURUS (Cass.). 

 ill. Western Red-tail. {■'>■>'!>) 



The extreme foiiu is chocolatcbrnwn oi even darker, (|uitc miicolor, with 

 rich red tail crossed by several black ))ars, from which the erythro-melanism 

 grades insensibly into ordinary //o/v-a//.v. The usual case is increase over 

 horealix of dark rufous and dusky sliades in bai's and spots undei'ueath, particu- 

 larly on the flanks and crissum. and presence of other than the subtcrminal 

 Itlack bar on the tail. 



H.\B. — Western Noith Aiiicri(-a, fnnii the Rocky Nb)uiitaiiis to the Pacific, 

 south into Mexico, casually to Illinois, Minnesota, Micliigan and (.'anada 

 West. 



Nesting habits and eggs identical with those of the common Red-tail. 



