122 



FAMILY BUTEONID^. BUZZARD HAWKS, KITES, HARRIERS, BUZZARDS, 



AND EAGLES. 



General Description. Hawks of various sizes, most easily described as being neither 

 Falcons nor Ospreys. 



Distinctions. Bill (Figure 33 b, p. 23) is without notches which make, as in the 

 Falcons, distinct tooth-like (Figure 33 a, p. 23) projections to the cutting edges. The feet 

 (especially under-surface) have no distinct, sharp, hard corrugations for holding slippery 

 prey, as in the Ospreys or Fish Hawks. Wings are short, round, and concave except in 

 the Kites and Harriers, and then- flight is comparatively heavy. 



This family is composed of a number of well-marked genera, each 

 comparatively easy of recognition. These comprise the bulk of our 

 common birds of prey. Though truly raptorial in character they have 

 not the bold spirit, the address in attack, nor the iron endurance of the 

 true Falcons and hence were called "Ignoble Hawks" by the old falconers. 



Genus Elanoides. Kites. 



The Kites are birds of southern distribution and only one species 

 has ever been taken in Canada. 



327. Swallow-tailed Kite. PR. LE MILAN A QUEUE D'ARONDE. Elanoides forfi- 

 catus. L, 24. (Projection of outer tail feathers beyond middle ones 8 inches). A rather 

 small Hawk which measures large because of the great elongation of its outer tail feathers 

 which extend 8 inches beyond the middle ones. Wings and tail pure black; all remainder, 

 including nead, shoulders, and upper back, white. A bird strikingly coloured hi intense 

 black and wb'te, with the deeply forked tail and long pointed wings of a Barn Swallow. 

 It is hardly possible to mistake this for any other species. 



Distribution. Tropical and semitropical America, appearing very rarely along our 

 southern border. 



A most beautiful species, but too rare in Canada to receive more 

 than passing reference here. 



Economic Status. Its principal food is insects, snails, and reptiles; 

 it never touches mammals or birds. 



Genus Circus. Harriers. 



331. Marsh Hawk. MARSH HARRIER. FR. LE BUSARD DBS MARAIS. Circus hud- 

 sonius. L, 19. Plate XI B. 



Distinctions. A partial and incomplete feathered eye-ring merely suggestive of 

 those of the Owls, is distinctive of the species. The general gull-like colours of the adult 

 male and the warm reds of the juveniles are characteristic. 



Field Marks. General coloration and the white rump which shows conspicuously in 

 flight are the best field marks. Its long pointed wings and long narrow tail give it a falcon- 

 like outline in flight, but its action is entirely different. 



Nesting. On the ground in a dry spot of the marshes, or in a hay-field. 



Distribution. The whole of the United States and Canada north to near the Arctic. 

 Breeds throughout Canada. 



'One of our commonest Hawks, found almost anywhere in eastern 

 Canada. It haunts the open marshes, meadows, and fields and is to be 

 seen beating up and down, quartering and covering the ground like a 

 well-trained bird-dog. For an instant it hovers over its intended prey 

 and then drops upon it, rising a moment later to alight on a fence-post 

 or other similar slight elevation to devour its captive. The young birds 

 are unsuspicious, but the blue adults are amongst the wariest of birds 

 and fall to the gun comparatively seldom. 



