200 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Elanus leucurus. 



Habits. The Black-shouldered Hawk is a southern, western, and South 

 American species. On the Pacific it is found to occupy a much more north- 

 ern range of locality than in the east- 

 ern States, where it is not found above 

 South Carolina and Southern Illinois. 

 Specimens have been taken near San 

 Francisco in midwinter. 



Several individuals of this species, 

 precisely identical with others from 

 the United States, were taken by 

 Lieutenant Gilliss, in the astronom- 

 ical expedition to Chile. Its range 

 in South America does not appear to 

 be confined, as was supposed, to the 

 western coast, as specimens are re- 

 corded by Von Pelzeln as having been 

 obtained by batterer in Brazil, at 

 Ytarare, Irisanga, and San Joaquin, 

 on the Kio Branco, in August, Febru- 

 ary, and January. These were taken 

 on the heights. They are also found in the countries of Mexico and Cen- 

 tral America. 



Tins species has been met with in South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Ala- 

 bama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas, and probably occurs also in New 

 Mexico and Arizona. Dr. Gambel describes them as very abundant in Cali- 

 fornia, where they are said to be familiar in their habits, and breed in 

 clumps of oaks, in the immediate vicinity of habitations. Dr. Heermann 

 also speaks of them as common in that State. But neither of these natu- 

 ralists appears to have met with tlieir nests or eggs. It is not mentioned 

 either as a bird of Cuba or Jamaica by Mr. Lembeye, Dr. Gundlach, Mr. 

 Gosse, or IMr. March. 



Dr. Cooper speaks of this bird as a beautiful and harmless species, quite 

 abundant in the middle districts of California, remaining in large numbers, 

 during winter, among the extensive tule marshes of the Sacramento and 

 other valleys. He did not meet with any during winter at Foi't Mohave, 

 nor do they seem to have been collected by any one in the dry interior of 

 that State, nor in the southern part of California. He has met with them 

 as far north as Baulines Bay, and near Monterey, but always about streams 

 or marshes. Their food consisted entirely of mice, gophers, small birds, 

 and snakes, and they were not known to attack the inmates of the poultry- 

 yard. 



Bonaparte, who first introduced the species into our fauna, received his 

 specimen from East Florida. The late Dr. Ravenel obtained one living near 

 Charleston, S. C, wliich he kept several days without being able to induce it 



