145 



copied from Dr. A. K. Fishers Report:* Red-tailed Hawk 

 (Buteo boreali*): 



"Of 562 stomachs examined, 54 contained poultry or game 

 birds; 51, other birds; 278, mice; 131, other mammals; 37, 

 batracians or reptiles; 47, insects; 8, crawfish; 1, centipedes; 

 13, offal; and 89 were empty." Hed-shouldered Hawk (Buteo 

 lineatut): "Of i'20 stomachs examined, 3 contained poultry; 12, 

 other birds; 102, mice; 40, other mammals; 20, reptiles; 39, 

 batrachians; 92, insects; 16, spiders; 7, crawfish; 1, earthworms; 

 2, offal; 3, fish; and 14 were empty." Broad-winged Hawk 

 {Buteo latissimus): "Of 65 stomachs examined, 2 contained 

 small birds; 15, mice; 13, other mammals; 11, reptiles; 13, 

 batrachians; 30, insects; 2, earthworms; 4, crawfish; and 7 

 were empty." The mammals mentioned here refer mostly to 

 mice, shrews, moles, some few squirrels and a few other kinds 

 of quadrupeds. These hawks in form are stout and heavy; the 

 wings long, wide and somewhat pointed; third, fourth and fifth 

 quills longest, the first shorter than eighth, the three outer 

 primaries in latissimus emarginate on inner webs, and borealis 

 and lineatus, tlie four outer quills emarginate on inner web. 

 The moderately long tail, conspicuously barred or highly colored 

 is quite broad and slightly rounded; the bluish black bill is short, 

 wide at base and maxilla is lobed on edges. Legs and feet 

 stout; tarsus feathered in front about one-third of length; 

 thighs have long feathers that in some individuals reach 

 nearly to the feet. Tarsi yellowish, cere yellowish or greenish; 

 the eyes vary greatly, but are usually brown or yellow. 

 Sexes similar in color; female larger than male; immature 

 birds differ greatly from the adults; the flight of these hawks 

 is quite vigorous, and that of borealis, in particular, is often 

 long continued, but they do not fly with the great rapidity 

 of the species of the genus Aecipiter. 



DETRIMENTAL SPECIES. 



Birds of the genus Aecipiter are rather long and slender in 

 form, and they have small heads, short wings, long tails and 

 legs. The bluish black bill is short and stout, maxilla being 

 strongly hooked and sharp-pointed; the broad ovate nostrils 

 are inserted in the greenish or yellowish cere. 



The tarsi are feathered in front a little less than half in 

 length. Tarsus, especially in veloz, is slender; and in atricap- 

 illus rather stout; the toes are long and slender, the outer and 

 middle united at base by a well-developed web. The black 

 claws are very long, much curved and sharp; eyes in old birds 

 are reddish-amber and in younger birds yellowish. 



The tarsus is yellowish. Birds of this genus are exceed- 

 ingly active and vigilant; they fly with great rapidity and fre- 

 quently pursue and catch, when on the wing different species 

 of wild birds, some of which are nearly as lairge as themselves. 

 The Sharp-shinned Hawk I have seen capture quail when 

 flying, and the fierce Goshawk has often been observed to 

 pursue and overtake turkeys, grouse, blackbirds, wild pigeons, 

 etc. These, and not, as some suppose, birds of the genus 

 Buteo, are the hawks that usually commit depredations in the 



•The Hawks and Owls of the United States: Bulletin Xo 3 

 IT. S. Department of Agriculture, I'SS'S. 



10-n 



