AGRICULTURAL ORNITHOLOGY. 291 



and even reptiles, form bis less dainty faro. I must leave the farmer to balance 

 the account as he best can. 



2. B. lineatus, (Gmel.,) Jardine, red-shouldered hawk. Winter resident, fre- 

 quent in season ; carnivorous ; habits somewhat similar to the preceding species. 

 with which it is often confounded; but is much less troublesome to the farmer. 



3. B. iicnnsylcanicus, (Wils.,) Bd., broad-winged hawk. Resident, and quits 

 rare ; carnirorous ; feeds on birds, mice, reptiles ; rarely on chickens. 



6. Genus Archibufco, (Brehm, 1828.) 



1. Lagopus, (Gmel.,) Bd., rough-legged hawk. Winter resident, not com- 

 mon here ; carnivorous ; affects meadows and the marshy borders of streams, 

 ■where it feeds on such birds, mice, and reptiles as are found in those places. 

 "The number of meadow mice which this species destroys, ought, one would 

 think, to insure it the protection of every husbandman." (And.) 



2. A. sancti johannis, (Gmel.,) Bd., black hawk. Winter resident, rare ; car- 

 nivorous ; habits similar to those of the last-named species 



Observation. — Audubon considers this the same as the rough-legged hawk 

 in more mature plumage. 



7. Genus Circus, (Lacep., 1808.) 



1. C. Jtudsonius, (Linn.,) Bd., marsh hawk. Wandering, mostly seen in win- 

 ter ; carnivorous ; atfects meadows and marshy grounds, hence its name ; feeds 

 on small birds, but more especially on mice and other small quadrupeds, and, 

 ■when in season, on frogs, snakes, &c. 



8. Genus Aquila. 



1. A. canadensis, (Linn.,) Bd., golden eagle. Wandering, very seldom seen 

 here ; carnivorous, ^ylth courage equal to his strength, he fearlessly pounces on 

 a swan or a goose, a kid or a lamb, and, when instigated by extreme luinger, 

 has been known to seize on little children and bear them off to his mountain 

 eyry. " Young faAvns, raccoons, hares, wild turkeys, and other large birds, 

 constitute a jDortiou of his bill of fare." (And.) 



9. Genus Halicetus, (Savig., 1809.) 



1. H. leucocephalus, (Linn.,) Bd., white-headed eagle. Wandering, not com- 

 mon; piscivorous. The principal food of the bald eagle is fish, and this is 

 mostly plundered from the fish hawk ; sometimes preys on ducks and other 

 water birds ; when these fail, he will even feed on carrion, and, like his older 

 brother, attacks lambs, fawns, pigs, &c. Instances are related of his seizing 

 small children and carrying them away to his nest. 



10. Genus Pandio7i, (Savig., 1809.) 



1. P. carolinensis, (Gmel.,) Bd., fish hawk. Wandering, frcqiaent along the 

 larger streams ; piscivorous ; aftects our rivers and bays, and passes from one 

 to another as the occurrence of ice, &c., may require. Feeds almost wholly on 

 fish, which it catches with wonderful dexterity ; too often, as has been noticed, 

 to be robbed of its prize by the white-headed eagle. 



ni. FAMILY STRIGID^. (THE OWLS.) 



11. Genus Strix, (Linn., 1766.) 



1. S. 2>ratincola, (Bon.,) barn owl. Winter resident, rare; carnivorous. 

 "I am satisfied that our bird feeds entirely on the smaller species of quadru- 

 peds." (Aud.) This, of course, refers to mice and other nocturnal animals. 



12. Genus Bubo, (Cuv., 1817.) 



1. B. virginianus, (Gmel.,) Bd., great horned oavI. Resident, frequent ; 

 carnivorous. " Its food consists of half-grown turkeys, pheasants, and domestic 

 poultry of every kind ; also hares, young opossums, and squirrels." (Aud.) 

 This is our most noteworthy robber of the hen-roost. 



13. Genus Scojis, (Savig., 1809.) 



1. <S. as/o, (Linn.,) Bd., red screech-owl. Resident, common ; carnivorous; 

 preys on mice, small sparrows, &c., and very often catches nocturnal beetles 



