2 MUSEUM BULLETIN NO. 28. 



winged or woodland hawks; (4) Buteos, buzzard hawks or soarers, and 

 Rough-legs; (5) Eagles; (6) Falcons, noble or long- winged chasers; 

 (7) Ospreys or Fish Hawks. 



VULTURES. 



The vultures are represented by only one species in Canada, the 

 Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura. This is sometimes called Turkey 

 Buzzard, though strictly speaking it is not a true buzzard a term which 

 can be correctly applied only to one of the following groups. It is 

 found in the more southern parts of the prairie provinces, but, as it 

 confines itself strictly to carrion and is unfitted by physical structure 

 for aggression, its effect is neutral or wholly beneficial. There are tales 

 of its picking out the eyes of young lambs, but there is certainly little 

 danger of its doing this unless the mother is unable to put up even a 

 slight show of defence. 



The Turkey Buzzard can be easily recognized by its large size 

 (30 inches long) and sooty black colour unrelieved except by the red 

 of its bare, featherless head and neck, which is plainly visible at consider- 

 able distances. 



HARRIERS. 



The Harriers are represented by only one species, the Marsh Hawk 

 (Circus hudsonicus). In life it is a rather large-appearing hawk (19-22 

 inches long), but in the hand the smallness of its body and the lightness 

 of its construction are evident. It has not the strength nor the weight 

 for attacking any but small prey. It beats about over the marshes, 

 meadows, or open fields and subsists almost wholly on mice and such 

 small deer. Occasionally small birds are taken, and small ducks that 

 have been wounded are sometimes attacked by it, but it rarely if ever 

 threatens whole or healthy birds of this size. Young chicks of both 

 wild and domestic species are taken on occasion, but it usually avoids 

 the immediate vicinity of buildings and has not often the courage 

 to stoop on the poultry yard. The young grouse it takes must be counted 

 against it, but as out of 124 stomachs examined only one contained evid- 

 ence of this, such cases are probably the result of occasional opportunity, 

 rather than regular habit. The number of mice it takes is large and 

 it must be ranked high as a mouser. It is, therefore, a bird that is 

 strictly beneficial and should have every protection. 



The Marsh Hawk (Plate I A) when flying exhibits long pointed 

 wings and a long narrow tail. In outline, therefore, it resembles the 

 falcons, but its tail is longer than theirs and its action and habit of flight 



