THE RED-TAILED HAWK. 91 



sible to describe. His bowings and the snappings of his bill 

 are extremely ludicrous; and no sooner is the female assured 

 that the attentions paid her by the beau are the result of a 

 sincere affection than she joins in the motions of her future 

 mate." 



How O! How Of Hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo! These, with many 

 other screaming and choking sounds to one who has heard 

 them, and has both a good memory and a good imagination, 

 may be especially significant. But of all the sounds with 

 which this bird makes night hideous, no one has heard any 

 to the greatest advantage, unless, passing through some dis- 

 mal forest in the full blackness of night, he has heard the 

 alarm sounded suddenly in the tree-tops above him. 



No one need fail of the acquaintance of the Great Horned 

 Owl, for he is abundant, and the whole continent is his 

 habitat. 



THE RED-TAILED HAWK. 



. It is the last of February. The ground is frozen hard; a 

 light fall of snow during the previous night has but covered 

 the earth, and the sun has started on his career through the 

 heavens without a cloud to obscure his pathway. Gun in 

 hand, I have entered the nearest woods, and am crossing the 

 course of a run, smoothly frozen over, when I break through 

 the shell-ice, and from the dry region beneath the Gray 

 Rabbit (Lepus sylvaticus) springs Out through the opening at 

 my feet, and squats on a log only a few feet from me. I 

 attempt to fire, but the gun will not go off. I spoil several 

 caps, and go home to see what the matter is, well knowing 

 that I can track my game in the new snow for some time to 

 come. I am chagrined at the loss of the Rabbit, but am 

 diverted by the flight of a Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo borealis], 

 which, high in air, seems to be enjoying this delightful 

 morning. 



