RED-TAILED HAWK. 199 



In Ontario, the Goshawk is an irregular winter visitor, sometimes 

 appearing in considerable numbers, and again being altogether want- 

 ing for several years in succession. In the young plumage, it bears 

 some resemblance to Cooper's Hawk, but is always much larger in 

 size, and is more bold and daring in proportion, frequently carrying 

 off poultry from the very doors of houses in the suburbs of the city. 



It is one of the handsomest species of the family. A small-sized 

 adult male in m}^ collection is the finest I have ever seen, a perfect 

 model in symmetry, "the colors clear and bright, and the whole 

 plumage smooth and compact^ admirably suited for passing rapidly 

 through the air with the least possible resistance. 



In the "Birds of Alaska," Mr. Nelson says: "This is the hand- 

 somest, as well as one of the most abundant, of the birds of prey 

 resident in Northern Alaska. It is present everywhere throughout 

 all the wooded region, and in spring and autumn, especially during 

 the latter season, it is a common visitor to the open country bordering 

 on the shore of Behring Sea and the Arctic coast, and is a character- 

 istic bird in the fur countries, breeding nearly to the Arctic coast. 



" The Goshawk has a bad reputation among the natives, from 

 its habit of stealing birds from their snares, as well as for hunting 

 the Ptarmigan, upon which, at certain seasons, the Eskimo depend 

 largely for a food supply. Although many of these birds remain in 

 the north during the winter, I believe that a considerable number 

 of them pass farther to the south." 



This is one of the six injurious species named in Dr. Fisher's 

 report, but we see it so seldom it does not annoy us much. 



Genus BUTEO Cuvier. 

 BUTEO BOREALIS (Gmel.). 



143. Red-tailed Hawk. (337) 



Four outer quills emarginate on inner web. Adult: — Dark brown above, 

 many feathers with pale or tawny margins, and upper tail coverts showing 

 much whitish; below, white or reddish-white, with various spots and streaks 

 of diiferent shades of br'own, generally forming an irregular zone on the abdo- 

 men ; tail above, bright chestnut-red, with subterminal black zone and narrow 

 whitish tip, below pearly -gray; wing coverts, dark. Young: — With the tail 

 grayish-brown barred with darker, the upper parts with tawny streaking. 

 A large, stoutly-built hawk. Female; — 23; wing, 15^; tail, 8^. Male: — 20; 

 wing, 14; tail, 7. 



