FALCONID^ — THE FALCONS. 279 



Atlantic to the Pacific coast it is replaced by the Buteo elegans. Mr. J. A. 

 Allen found it by far the most abundant of this family in Florida. In Texas 

 the two races, lineatus and elegans, appear to occur together, Mr. Dresser 

 having met with both near San Antonio. The Red-shouldered Hawk 

 was noticed by this writer from the river Neuces eastward. He found 

 it breeding in the heavily wooded river bottoms of the Medina, and 

 several others of the rivers of Texas, but did not succeed in procuring the 

 eggs. It breeds abundantly in Florida, and thence throughout the United 

 States as far north as Northern Vermont, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. 

 Lieutenant Bland notices it as a common and migratory species in Nova 

 Scotia, but Mr. Downes speaks of it as rare near Halifax, where he only 

 met with two specimens. Mr. Boardman gives it as quite common near 

 Calais, breeding there and probably resident. In Western Maine Mr. Ver- 

 rill regarded the species as a not very common summer resident, where it 

 was also known to breed, as he met with its nest and eggs Alay 24, 1860. 

 It is quite common in Eastern Massachusetts, where it is found all the year, 

 but where it is more abundant in the fall, from the addition of nortliern 

 ■ migrants, than at any other time. A few are found throughout the win- 

 ter, keeping about open springs and in sheltered situations. Mr. Allen also 

 speaks of it as not uncommon in the western part of the same State. It 

 was not taken or seen by Eichardson in northern regions, nor does it appear 

 to have been observed in any of the West India Islands. 



The history and habits of* this very common Hawk seem to have been 

 involved, among earlier writers, in a confusion that seems hardly explicable. 

 Wilson described and always regarded the young and old as two distinct 

 species, calling the former hyemalis, giving to it a northern residence, and the 

 mature bird lineatus. Mr. Audubon repeated this error at first, and sought to 

 demonstrate its correctness by giving to the two forms very dissimilar habits. 

 Bonaparte believed these forms to be identical, and Nuttall did the same, but 

 was altogether in error as to its distribution. He was not aware of its pres- 

 ence in Massachusetts, where it is at times the most abundant of the rapto- 

 rial birds. This writer only met with it in the Southern States, where 

 he found it very common in swampy situations. He speaks of its 

 having a quailing cry of mutual recognition, which is a plaintive echoing 

 note, like kee-u6, which is continued witli little intermission for nearly 

 twenty minutes. He describes the species as not shy, and as very easily 

 approached. These Hawks remain mated throughout the year, and their 

 affectionate treatment of each other is in striking contrast with the selfish 

 indifference of the Red-tail species when their breeding-season is ended. 



Nuttall observed it feeding on frogs, cray-fish, and even insects, and 

 rarety troubling larger game. In only one instance did he see one descend 

 upon a Plover. Wilson saw them attack Plover, Sand-pipers, Larks, and 

 even Hawks ; but the last is very rare and exceptional. I have never 

 known one of this species to molest the poultry-yard. From 1828 to 1838, 



