322 THE MOUNTAIN. 



rearing its young there ; color, dusky-brown, breast whitish, 

 with blackish stripes longitudinal. Not at all abundant 



FALCO Sparverius, (Linn.) American sparrow-hawk. 

 This is a less hawk than the Columbarius, and is the smallest 

 of his tribe. He is a beautiful little bird, with striking 

 marks, and gallant bearing, and sometimes gets as far 

 north as 53. Color, rufous, beneath nearly white, spotted 

 with brown ; seven black curved spots around head ; wing 

 covers slate-blue, etc. Prey, mice, small birds, lizards, etc. 

 It is common. 



HALIAETUS Leucocephalus, (Linn.) Bald eagle. This 

 beautiful eagle has an extremely wide range, and is some- 

 times seen on the knobs and in the water gaps of the moun- 

 tain. As his general prey is fish, he haunts the larger 

 streams. He is occasionally seen soaring around the spurs 

 near the gaps of the important water -courses. "Color, 

 dark-brown, head and tail white, feet, bill, and cere yellow." 

 This eagle is a regular pirate, his mode of capturing his 

 booty being a subject of interest.* 



PANDION Halisetus, (Linn.) Fish-hawk. This splendid 

 hawk is rare. A short distance from the slopes of the 

 Alleghany, along the streams, he is sometimes found. He 

 is a regular fisher, and has an extensive range. Color, 

 " dark-brown, beneath white, feet and cere blue." He is a 

 great favorite with some of the old ornithologists, who give 

 him high qualities, and mark his life with sentiment and 

 romance. He is the constant victim of the marauding pro- 

 pensities of the bald eagle. 



'BUTEO Borealis, (Gmel.) Red-tailed hawk, American 

 buzzard. This beautiful bird is found over the whole United 

 States. It is a bold and predatory species, often invading 

 the barn-yard, but generally finding his prey in the woods, 

 devouring squirrels, birds, and occasionally condescending 

 to feed upon mice, moles, and frogs. Color, " dark-brown 

 above, white, with dark spots beneath, tail reddish, with 



* He is the far-famed "American Eagle." 



