BIRDS OF MINNESOTA. 187 



It is undeniably difficult for me to regard Krider's Hawk as 

 a variety of the common Red-tailed Hawk. 



I was much disappointed that Mr. Washburn did not meet 

 with it either in Crow Wing or Otter Tail counties, as his two 

 explorations extended over sufficient time for a careful ob- 

 servation of its habits had he found them in sufficient numbers. 



All the specimens that I have had in my hands up to the 

 present time, have been males, where I have had an opportun- 

 ity to be certain as to the sex, and have averaged less in their 

 measui'e than B. horealis 



The difference in the measure of white in the colors consti- 

 tutes the recognized distinguishing character of this variety of 

 the Red- tailed Hawks. 



BUTEO BORKALIS CALURUS (Cassin). (337&.) 



WESTERN RED-TAIL. 



A single specimen of this variety of the Red- tail is all I have 

 to justify its record within the boundaries of my investigations. 

 That it has been killed repeatedly along the Red river by 

 sportsmen I have no doubt from descriptions from them, but 

 while engaged in the exciting events of "good wing shooting" 

 amongst the ducks, all thoughts of the solicitations of im- 

 portunate science are forgotten, to be only recalled by meeting 

 some one of her humble serv^ants. 



Between the facts and the fancies of the narrator, one of the 

 former here and another there, will build up considerable cir- 

 cumstantial proof in such a matter. While "one swallow 

 doesn't make it summer," it makes one think about it. The re- 

 cords of the presence of the Western Red -tail in Illinois are 

 fully accepted. 



The single specimen I refer to above was in unmistakable 

 plumage and from the vicinity of the Red river. 



I am familiar with the species in its recognized habits where 

 its habits do not differ from the Red-tails of the eastern states. 

 My experience with one of them that I had winged in Santa 

 Clara county, California, in the spring of 1872, gave me a last- 

 ing respect for his indomitable courage which has been freshly 

 recalled by reading the Rev. J. H. Langille's account of carry- 

 ing one of the Eastern Red- tails home on the muzzle of his gun 

 which it had seized after being disabled for flight by winging. 

 I can conceive of nothing but the bird's recognition of his pro- 

 fession that spared him from a like proof of his valor. 



My bird as readily accepted the proffered muzzle of the gun, 

 but in less time than it takes to wink he had ascended, ' 'hand 

 over hand" and dealt nothing less than a baker's dozen of blows 



