BIRDS OF MINNESOTA. 187 



It is undeniably difficult for me to regard Krider's Hawk as 

 a variety of the common Red- tailed Hawk. 



I was much disappointed that Mr. Washburn did not meet 

 with it either in Crow Wing or Otter Tail counties, as his two 

 explorations extended over sufficient time for a careful ob- 

 servation of its habits had he found them in sufficient numbers. 



All the specimens that I have had in my hands up to the 

 present time, have been males, where I have had an opportun- 

 ity to be certain as to the sex, and have averaged less in their 

 measure than B. borealis 



The diJIerence in the measure of white in the colors consti- 

 tutes, the recognized distinguishing character of this variety of 

 the Red- tailed Hawks. 



BUTEO BOREALIS CALURUS (Cassin). (337&.) 



WESTERN RED-TAIL. 



A single specimen of this variety of the Red-tail is all I have 

 to justify its record within the boundaries of my investigations. 

 That it has been killed repeatedly along the Red river by 

 sportsmen I have no doubt from descriptions from them, but 

 while engaged in the exciting events of "good wing shooting" 

 amongst the ducks, all thoughts of the solicitations of im- 

 portunate science are forgotten, to be only recalled by meeting 

 some one of her humble servants. 



Between the facts and the fancies of the narrator, one of the 

 former here and another there, will build up considerable cir- 

 cumstantial proof in such a matter. While "one swallow 

 doesn't make it summer," it makes one think about it. The re- 

 cords of the presence of the Western Red -tail in Illinois are 

 fully accepted. 



The single specimen I refer to above was in unmistakable 

 plumage and from the vicinity of the Red river. 



I am familiar with the species in its recognized habits where 

 its habits do not differ from the Red-tails of the eastern states. 

 My experience with one of them that I had winged in Santa 

 Clara county, California, in the spring of 1872, gave me a last- 

 ing respect for his indomitable courage which has been freshly 

 recalled by reading the Rev. J. H. Langille's account of carry- 

 ing one of the Eastern Red- tails home on the muzzle of his gun 

 which it had seized after being disabled for flight by winging. 

 I can conceive of nothing but the bird's recognition of his pro- 

 fession that spared him from a like proof of his valor. 



My bird as readily accepted the proffered muzzle of the gun, 

 but in less time than it takes to wink he had ascended, "hand 

 over hand" and dealt nothing less than a baker's dozen of blows 



