528 THE -BIRDS OF MANITOBA THOMPSON. 



On August 27, 1883, George Measham brought a large goshawk that 

 he had shot by the north slough; youug female; length 24, extension 

 44; weight, 2^ pounds good. It is a very big, heavy bird ; legs, all 

 reticulate except iu front, where they are scutellate; plumage very 

 pale, streaked all over; a white line over the eye; its throat and stom- 

 ach were filled with bad meat, but there was nothiug to show of what 

 kiud. 



On September 14 I secured a living goshawk by a curious combina- 

 tion of circumstances. Some days before a harrier had been shot over 

 at Wright's while chasiug the chickens and was left where it fell; and 

 on the day in question the chickens were picking at the now odorous 

 body of their late foe, when three great gray hawks came wheeling 

 overhead, and presently one of them pounced down among the fowls. 

 Away they ran for shelter, all save one, which was carried off and the 

 three pirates circled away and down onto the prairie to enjoy their 

 repast, where, lo! to their infinite disgust, they found that the only 

 chicken which had not fled was the dry and musty dead harrier. In the 

 meantime I had started after them with- the gun, and by the never- 

 failing trick of pretending not to see them, for there was not a stick of 

 cover, I got within shot and secured a bird with each barrel. One of 

 them was only winged and after a short chase he was captured and 

 taken home. 



Here I kept him for over a month, but finding that his wing was not 

 likely to heal 1 killed him. During the time he lived he lost no whit 

 of his inborn ferocity; he was kept chained by the entrance to the gar- 

 den, and so far as hens were concerned he answered perfectly as a gate. 

 He was always ready for a fight when any dog came near; but I found 

 that by approaching cautiously I could seize his feet, after which he 

 was powerless to inflict any injury. 



The flight of this fine species is worthy of the true falcon, for it is 

 so dashing and swift that the common buzzards look very slow and 

 clumsy in comparison. 



January 13, 1887, at Rat Portage, was shown the remains of a goshawk 

 shot here last fall. 



I have seen these birds strike at Sharp tailed Grouse and at tame pigeons, but they 

 do not seem to be successful in their efforts very often, for I never saw them catch 

 one nor do they appear to follow up their game after making their dash at it. (Nash, 

 iu MSS.) 



109. Buteo borealis. Red-tailed Hawk. 



(Possibly krideri, as a breeding specimen from Chippewa Lake, Min- 

 nesota, is so identified by Mr.Eidgway.) Tolerably common summer 

 resident of the wooded regions; one taken on Mouse River, at the 

 boundary, in September (Cones). Winnipeg: Summer resident; rare 

 (Hine). I saw numbers at Red River Settlement in the spring of 1859 

 (Blakiston). Portage la Prairie : Tolerably common summer resident, 



