XXXVII. 
I. With conspicuous ear-tufts. 
A. ‘Wing less than 8.00. 168. Screech Owl. 
B. Wing more than 8.00. 
t. A large white throat-patch. 169. Great Horned Owl. 
2. No white throat-patch. 163. American Long-eared Owl. 
Il. With very short or no ear-tufts. 
A. Wing more than 10.00. 
1. Plumage largely white. 170. Snowy Owl. 
2. Plumage brownish. 
a. Wing more than 15.00. 166. Great Gray Owl. 
b. Wing less than 15.co but more than 10.00. 
(1). Plumage conspicuously barred. 165. Barred Owl. 
(2). Plumage not barred. 164. Short-eared Owl. 
B. Wing less than 10.00. 
1. Wing less than 6.00. 167. Saw-whet Owl. 
2. Wing more than 6.00. 171. American Hawk Owl. 
Family 3. Fanconmar. Kites, Hawks, Eagles, Falcons, etc. 
After a most thorough and careful investigation of the food of all of our birds of prey by our 
national Agricultural Department, Dr. A. K. Fisher shows that but four of the 28 species which 
have been found in Ohio are more injurious than useful, and but three members of this family, the 
Sharp-shinned and the Cooper Hawks, and the American Goshawk, are more harmful than benefi- 
cial. Hawks eat the mice and insects which injure grain and fruit. We need to discriminate care- 
fully before killing in cold blood. One may be wholly justified in killing when his poultry or other 
property is being destroyed, whether the kind doing the killing belongs to a species that is harmful 
or not. 
There is no sure mark by which a hawk may be known from all other birds, but their sharp. 
curved talons and sharply hooked beaks are good indications of what they eat and how they live. 
In practical study one soon comes to know a member of this group at sight. 
I. Wing over 20 inches long. 
A. Tarsus entirely feathered. 185. Golden Eagle. 
B. Lower half of tarsus bare. 186. Bald Eagle. 
II. Wing under 19 inches long. 
A. Under parts streaked or spotted, without bars. 
I. Outer primary conspicuously barred. 
a. Wing under 10.00. 
(1). Back bright reddish-brown. plain or barred. 1474. American Sparrow Hawk. 
(2). Back fuscous or slaty. 
(a). Wing under 7.00. 177. Sharp-shinned Hawk. 
(b). Wing over 7.50. 
(al). Tail over 7.00, rounded. 178. Cooper Hawk. 
(bl). Tail under 6.00, square. 173. Pigeon Hawk. 
b. Wing over 10.00. 
(1). Rump white. 176. Marsh Hawk. 
(2). Rump not white. 
(a). ‘Tail over 10.00. 179. American Goshawk. 
(b). Tail under 8.00. 172. Duck Hawk. 
2. Outer primary not, or not conspicuously barred. 
a. Wing under 12.00. 183. Broad-winged Hawk. 
b. Wing over 12.00, under 14.00. 182. Red-shouldered Hawk. 
c. Wing over 15.00. 180. Red-tailed Hawk. 
B. Under parts streaked or spotted, with bars. 
1. Front of tarsus with distinct rounded scales. 172. Duck Hawk. 
2. Front of tarsus with distinct square scales. 
a. Bluish-slate color above. 179. American Goshawk. 
b. Pattern various, but in general brownish above. 
(1). Tail rufous, wholly or mostly. 180 & 181. Red-tailed Hawk and 
Western Reds-tail. 
(2). Tail barred with brown and light gray. 
(a). Wing more than 12.00. 182. Red-shouldered Hawk. 
(b). Wing less than 12.00. 183. Broad=-winged Hawk. 
3. Front of tarsus with indistinct scales or smooth. 
a. Upper tail-coverts white. 176. Marsh Hawk. 
b. Upper tail-coverts not white. 
(1). Wing over 9.00, tail rounded. 178. Cooper Hawk. 
(2). Wing under 9.00, tail square. 177. Sharp-shinned Hawk. 
