376 LAND-BIRDS. 



c. The Red-tailed Buzzards are the most majestic of our 

 Hawks, though surpassed by many in activity and speed. 

 They are in southern New England resident throughout the 

 year, but are said to occur to the northward only during the 

 summer season. Except in winter, they are much less com- 

 mon than the Red-shouldered Hawk, whose habits are so very 

 similar that I shall abbreviate this biography, and refer my 

 readers to the next. They sometimes sail even a mile without 

 moving the wings, or mount in circles till nearly lost to sight, 

 but they are ordinarily dependent upon the impetus given by 

 occasional flappings. They feed upon large birds, rabbits, 

 squirrels, snakes, frogs, etc., and not unfrequently fall upon 

 their prey from an elevation of several hundred feet. They 

 also often perch upon some tree, as in a meadow, and watch for 

 movements in the grass. They are somewhat shy and difficult 

 to approach, but they are bold enough to carry off poultry, 

 and I have been told of one actually caught in a hen-house. 



d. I can perceive no essential difference between their 

 cries and those of the next species. 



B. LINEATUS. Red-shouldered Hawk (or Buzzard). 

 " Hen Hawk" In Massachusetts, a common resident through- 

 out the year.* 



. Much less stout than the " Red-tail," and less in aver- 

 age size, the female being rarely or never more than twenty- 

 three inches long. The coloration is variable, but the follow- 

 ing description of a fine mature specimen will answer for 

 others. Above, dark brown. Head, streaked with rusty and 

 white ; back and rump, marked with the same colors. Tail, 

 and quill-feathers, black ; the former tipped, and both barred, 

 with white. Shoulders, rich rufous or pheasant brown. 

 Beneath, white. Breast, etc., streaked, chiefly with fulvous, 



* At most localities in Connecticut, throughout the great coniferous for- 



Rhode Island, and eastern Massachu- ests of northern New England, it is 



setts this species is more numerously very seldom seen. It regularly passes 



represented during the breeding-season the winter in southern New England, 



than any other of our Hawks except- but is nearly everywhere less common, 



ing Accipiter cooperii ; but in the wilder at that season, than the Red-tailed 



and more elevated parts of central Hawk. W. B. 

 and western Massachusetts, as well as 



