48 



THE HAWKS AND OWLS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



I'able sJiowing the results of examinations of G stomachs of Harris's Hawk 

 {Parahuteo timcinctus harrisi). 



Summary.— Of 6 stomachs examined, 5 contained mammals ; 1, insects ; and 1 was empty. 



RED-TAILED HAWK. 



Buteo borealis. 

 [Plate 7— Adult and immature.] 



The Eed-tail, or '■ Hen Hawk,' as it is commonly termed, is one of the 

 best known of all our raptorial birds. Its large size, wide distribution, 

 and habit of frequenting open ground while hunting, cause it to be 

 noticed by the most indifferent observer. The careful study of the food 

 of this Hawk is of the greatest economic importance. The more so from 

 the fact that like its congener the Eed-shouldered Hawk, its inappropri- 

 ate name 'Hen Hawk' stimulates an unceasing warfare against it. The 

 farmers, who are chiefly benefited by it, are its most i)ronounced ene- 

 mies, because of the erroneous belief that the Red-tailed Hawk isa per- 

 sistent and destructive enemy of poultry. 



A species as powerful and numerous as this must exert a marked in- 

 fluence^ for good or evil on agriculture, according as its food consists of 

 beneficial or injurious forms of animal life. 



Abundant proof is at hand to show that this Hawk greatly prefers 

 the smaller mammals, reptiles, andbatrachians, taking little else when 

 these are obtainable in sufficient numbers; but if hard X)ressed by hun- 

 ger it will eat almost any form of animal life, such as poultry and other 

 birds, insects, crawfish, and even offal or carrion. Mr. Vernon Bailey, 

 writing from Marfa, Tex., in January, 1890, says: "The crops and 

 stomachs of seven contained hair and flesh of goats. A large number 

 of goats are kept near here, and the hawks feed on those that die." 



It is to be remarked that young Hawks are less particular as to the 

 character of their food, and they are more frequently found to be the 

 depredators of the poultry yards. The reason for this seems to be a 

 lack of skill in procuring a sufficient quantity of the more usual prey. 

 During winter a number of these immature birds frequent the exten. 

 sive crow roost in the Arlington National Cemetery, near the city of 

 Washington, and subsist partially on the dead and sickly crows. On 

 one occasion, while on the river marsh below the roost in company with 

 Mr. W. F. EobertSj the writer saw one of these birds stoop at a crow 



