OF NEW ENGLAND. 361 
from an elevation of several hundred feet. They also often 
perch upon some tree, as in a meadow, and watch for move- 
ments in the grass. They are somewhat shy and difficult to 
approach, but they are bold enough to carry off poultry, and 
I have been told of one actually caught in a hen-house. 
_ (d). I can perceive no essential difference between their 
cries and those of the next species. 
(B) urweatus. Red-shouldered Hawk (or Buzzard). ‘ Hen 
Hawk.” 
(In Massachusetts, a common resident throughout the year.) 
(a). Much less stout than the * Red-tail,” and less in aver- 
age size, the female being rarely or never more than twenty- 
three inches long. The coloration is variable, but the follow- 
ing description of a fine mature specimen will answer for 
others. Above, dark brown. Head, streaked with rusty and 
white; back and rump marked with the same colors. Tail, 
and quill-feathers, black; the former tipped, and both barred, 
with white. Shoulders, rich rufous or pheasant-brown. Be- 
neath, white. Breast, etc., streaked, chiefly with fulvous, with 
which the belly, ete., is tinged and finely barred. Under tail- 
coverts, white; tail the same, with bands of pearly gray. Im- 
mature birds have the white above and black impure, the 
rufous wanting or restricted. Beneath, white, streaked (and 
spotted) with dark brown. ‘ Tail beneath silvery white.” 
Under wing-coverts usually more or less fulvous as in the 
adult. 
(b). The ‘Hen Hawks” generally build a fresh nest every 
year, though they may occasionally occupy the same nest ‘ for 
several seasons,” as Mr. Samuels states to be the case. Should 
their home be destroyed during the season of incubation, they 
usually repair an old nest for a second brood, as they some- 
times do for their first. Their nest, when finished, is a large 
structure of sticks (from eighteen to thirty inches in diameter), 
and is commonly lined with smail branches of hemlock, or 
with tree-moss. It may be found in rather secluded or unfre- 
quented woods and pine-groves, particularly those which con- 
