FALCONTD^ — THE FALCONS. 



281 



Mr. L. Heiligbrodt found the nest of this Hawk near Austin, Texas. One 

 egg was taken from the nest, and in a few days after a second was found to 

 have been deposited (S. I. 15,894). 



The handsome variety known as B. elegans is generally spoken of by all 

 familiar with its habits, as well 

 as with its appearance, as the 

 almost exact counterpart of 

 the Eed-shouldered Haw^k, re- 

 placing that form on the west 

 coast. 



In regard to its distinctive 

 specific habits but little is as 

 yet known, but it is probable 

 they are not essentially differ- 

 ent from those of the lineatus, 

 Dr. Cooper bearing positive 

 testimony to tliis fact. He 

 found this Hawk common in 

 the southern part of the State, 

 especially near San Diego, but 

 he did not meet with any in 

 the Colorado Valley. On his 

 approach to one of them, it 

 would always lly off from its 

 usual perch, circling up high 

 into the air, and uttering short 

 shrill screams in rapid succession in the manner of the lineatus. He no- 

 ticed a pair constantly at one place near a ranch, and supposed they were 

 about building there, but was not able to find the nest. 



Among the memoranda of Mr. Xantus, made at Fort Tejon, Cal., is one 

 dated May 9, mentioning the finding the nest of this species. It contained 

 four eggs, was built in an old decayed tree, in a swamp, and was about 



Buteo elegans. 



fifteen feet from the ground. 



The nest was large and made of sticks. 



Buteo borealis (Gmel.). 



RED-TAILED HAWK. 



Sp. Char. Form heavy and robust; wings moderate, the third to fifth quill longest; 

 the first shorter than the seventh ; outer four with inner webs cut. Feet strong, the tarsi 

 and toes robu.st, and claws not very acute. Dimensions: Wing, 13.50-17.25; tail, 

 8.50-11.30; culmen, 90-1.15; tarsus, 2.70-3.40; middle toe, 1.60-1.95; weight, 2^ to 

 4 lbs. Colors: Adult: tail, deep lateritious-rufous, paler at the tip. and usually with 

 a subterminal bar of black (sometimes without any bar, and sometimes with numer- 

 ous bars to the base). Above blackish-brown, more or less variegated with whitish on 



VOL. III. ^^ 



