168 



Birds of Xoktii Carolina 



never known one to kill a bird of any kind. It is iindouhtodly the most abundant 

 of our larger hawks. Cairns regarded it as only a winter vLsitor in Bunconil)e 

 County. In most of the State, however, it is a resident throughout the j'ear, build- 

 ing its nest in the crotches of large trees, usually oaks, along the creek bottoms. 

 The eggs are laid in early Ajiril. and are usually two or three in number, of a whitish 



Flu. I'JT. Kkii-siioii.dered Hawk. 



ground-color, variously marked witii different shades of brown, buff, and gray. 

 Size 2.15 X 1.70. On May i), 18'J'.), at Chai)el Hill. Orange County. Pearson found 

 two handsomely marked eggs in a nest situatetl in a i)ine tree thirty feet from the 

 ground. At this date incubation was well advanced. H. H. Brimley has also found 

 the bird nesting in pine trees. 



151. Buteo swainsoni iBo/Kip.). Swainson's Hawk. 



Description. — (iray, variously slrfakcil; usually a bright chestnut or brownish area on broast; 

 tail with narrow dark bars, three outor primaries notehed. L., 20.00; \V., 15.00; T., 8.50. 

 Range. — Western North America, east to tlie Mississijipi, 

 Range in Xiirth CnroUnn. — Ueeorded by Cairns from Bimeombe County. 



Swainson's Hawk is admitted to the fauna of this State on the strength of its 

 being included in Cairns's list of Buncombe County birds, published in the Ornithol- 

 ogist and Oologist for January, 1887. It is there spoken of as accidental. Cairns 

 was so careful and accurate an observer that his records cannot be lightly thrown 

 aside, and this one is therefore included here. 



152. Buteo platypterus platypterus {\'iciU.). Buoad-wingeu Hawk. 



Descripliim. — Brown al>(>\c', wliitisli or fulvous below, variously streaked or barred; three outer 

 primaries "notehed" (as in the .Swainson's Hawk), and without markings. L., 15. .iO: W.. 10..50; 

 T., 7.00. Easily distinKuished from others of the genus by its smaller size. 



/iarej/e.— Eiustern North .\merica. 



Range in North Carolina. — ^So far, ordy known from Wake, Orange, and Huuc-ombc counties 

 in sununcr. 



