488 PREYIIJG BIRDS — RAFTORES. 



Of this genus but few species are known, mainly confined to the 

 warmer regions of the Old World and the Xew, including Australia. All 

 have the same general appearance as to color and size, and might in- 

 deed not improperly be considered local or geographical varieties of one 

 species. 



Genus ELANUS, S.vvigny. 



Elaniis, S.VVIGNY, Hist. Nat. d'Eygptc, 1. 1809, 97. 



Gen. Cn.^n. Wings long, pointed ; tail nKjiU'vatc, omarginated ; tarsi short. Bill 

 modcratelv strong, compressed, and ronnded above ; month ck'i't l)eliind tlie eyes ; lobe of 

 upper mandiljle obtnse ; cere villons ; nostrils oval. Tarsi short, thick, reticulated, feath- 

 ered half-way down in front ; toes distinct ; claws large and acute, the outer very small. 



Elanus leucurus, Vieillot. 



THE BLACK-SHOULDERED HAWK. 



Slihus leucurus, Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. XX. 1818, .563. — Elanus leucurus, Bonaparte, 

 Comp. List, 4. — Cassin, P. R. Rep Birds, IX. 37. — Heermann, X. vi. 33. — Coop- 

 er anil SuCKLEY, XII. iii. Zool. of VV. T. 149. 



£alco dispar, Te.mm. Planches col. I. liv. 1824, 54. — AuDunoN, Om. Biog. IV. 367; pi. 

 352: Oct. cd. pi. 16. — Bonaparte, Am. Orn. II. 18; pi. 11, f. 1. — Elanus dispar, 

 NfTTALL, Man, I. 95. — Audubon, Oct. ed. 70; pi. 10. 



Sp. CilAR. Head, tail, and entire under parts, wdiite. Tpper parts fine hhiish-cinere- 

 ous • lesser wino- coverts glossy black, forming a large oblong patch on the shoulder ; lower 

 winn- coverts white, with a smaller black patch. Middle tail feathers light ashy like the 

 back. Length, 15.00 to 17.00 ; extent, 39.00 to 41.00; wing, 11.00 to 12.00 ; tail, 7.00 to 

 7.50. Iris orange red ; bill black ; feet orange. 



Hab. Southern Atlantic States ; California ; South America. 



This beautiful and harmless species is quite abundant in the middle 

 districts of California, remaining in large numbers during winter among 

 tlie extensive tale marshes of the Sacramento and other valleys. (Heer- 

 mann.) I did not see one during winter at Fort IMojave, nor do they 

 seem to have been collected by any one in the dry interior, or the southern 

 part of California. I have seen tliem as far north as Baulines Bay, and near 

 Monterey, but always about streams or marshes. Their food consists 

 entirely of mice, gophers, small birds, snakes, etc., and they rarely, if ever, 

 attack poultry. Of their nest and eggs no observations have yet been 

 recorded in this State; but, according to Audubon, they build on the Santee 

 Eiver, South Carolina, in j\larch. 



