72 THE HAWKS AND OWLS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



WHITE-TAILED HAWK. 



Buteo albicaiidatus. 



Tliis Hawk iuliabits tlie territory tVoiii eastern South America nortli 

 to soutlierii Texas. The tirst specimen taken within our huiits was 

 shot by Mr. G. B. Seimett near Corims Christi, Tex., March 27, 1878, 

 since which time it has been found not uncommon in the lower Eio 

 Grande A"all(\v. Mr. William Lloyd's records for western Texas in fall 

 and winter undoubtedly refer to tlir F('rrn<;inous Kougii-lcii-. (Auk, 

 vol. IV, 1887, pp. 188, 180.) 



Very little lias been written <m the fond of this Hawk, but presuma- 

 bly it does not differ much from that of the Red-shouldered Hawk. Mr. 

 G. B. Benners says its food consists of snakes, frogs, rabbits, and (luails. 

 (Ornithologist and Oologist, vol. xii, 1887, p. 68.) 



The White-tailed Hawk breeds along the sand ridges near the coast, 

 and usually places its nest in a Spanish bayonet (yucca) or other low 

 plant from 5 to 10 feet from the gnmnd. The nest is a bulky affair, 

 often several feet in diameter, althougii the cavity is small, and just 

 sutiicient to accommodate the bird. The greater mass of the structure 

 is comi>ose(l of sticks and coarse herbage, while the lining is made up 

 of drj' grass an<l small libers. The eggs, which are usually two in 

 number, rarely three or four, are deposited in the early part of May, 

 and the young are found about the 1st of June. 



The bird is quite shy and diflicult to secure, and when its nest is 

 approached will eiirle about out of gun range. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Tail less than half as long as wing. Three outer wing feathers with 

 inner web distinctly cut out. Tail, and the feathers covering it, white, 

 crossed near the end with a broad Itand of black, in front of Avhich are 

 numerous narrow broken lines of blackish. Above, blueish-gray or 

 slaty; front of shoulders rufous; rumi» and lower juirts white; throat 

 sometimes dusky. 



Length: 23 to 21 inches (581 to 609"""); extent, 48 to 54 inches (1220 

 to 1372">'"); wing, 14.50 to 17.75 inches (3G8 to 450"""); tail, 7.50 to 

 10.30 inches (100 to 261™"'). 



SWAINSON'S HAWK. 



Buteo swainsoni. 



[Plate 9— Adult.) 



Swainson's Hawk inhabits western North America, ranging from 

 Alaska and the Mackenzie Eiver district south through middle Amer- 

 ica and the greater part of South America to the Argentine lvepul)lic. 

 In North America it extends east to Hudson Bay, Wisconsin, Illinois, 



