200 FALCONS, HAWKS, EAGLES. ETC. 



the eye ; inner tail-feathers like the back, outer ones more fuscous, and slightly 

 marked with blackish; tip whitish; entire under parts evenly marked with 

 irregular, wavy bars of gray and white, the feathers of the throat and breast 

 with darker shaft streaks. Im. Upper parts fuscous, margined with rufous; 

 primaries barred with black ; tail brownish gray, barred with black ; under 

 parts white or butty, streaked with black. 6 L., 22-00 ; W., 13-00 ; T., 10-00 ; 

 B. from N., -65. 9 L., 24'00; W., 13-40; T., 11'50. 



Range. Breeds from the northern United States northward, and winters 

 as far south as Virginia. 



Washington, casual in winter. Sing Sing, rare W. V., Oct. 10 to Jan. 14. 

 Cambridge, irregular and uncommon W. V. 



Nest, in trees. Eggs, two to five, " white, or glaucous-white, sometimes 

 very faintly marked with pale brownish, 2-31 x 1-74" (Kidgw.). 



With the general habits of the two preceding species this larger 

 bird is much bolder than either. Dr. Fisher remarks : " This species 

 is one of the most daring of all the Hawks, and while in pursuit of 

 its prey is apparently less concerned by the presence of man than any 

 other. It will dart down unexpectedly at the very feet of the farmer 

 and carry off a fowl." 



4 " Of 28 stomachs examined, 9 contained poultry or game birds ; 2, 

 other birds ; 10, mammals ; 3, insects ; 1, centiped ; and 8 were empty " 

 (Fisher;. 



337. Buteo borealis (Gmel.). RED-TAILED HAWK; HEN HAWK; 

 CHICKEN HAWK. Ad. Upper parts dark grayish brown or fuscous-brown, 

 more or less edged with rufous, ochraceous-buft, and whitish ; four outer pri- 

 maries " notched," the outer one not regularly barred ; wing-coverts not edged 

 with rufous; tail rich rufous, with a narrow black band near its end and a 

 white tip ; upper breast heavily streaked with grayish brown and ochraceous- 

 buff, lower breast lightly streaked and sometimes without streaks; upper 

 belly streaked, spotted, or barred with black or blackish, forming a kind of 

 broken band across the belly ; lower belly generally white without streaks. 

 Im. Similar, but the tail of about the same color as the back, crossed by 

 numerous more or less distinct blackish bands ; no rufous in the markings of 

 the under parts. 6 L., 20-00 ; W., 15-50 ; T., 9-25 ; B. from N., -95. 9 L., 23-00 ; 

 W., 16-50; T., 9-75. 



ItniKje. Eastern North America, breeding throughout most of its range. 



Washington, common W. V., rare S. R. Sing Sing, common P. R. ; less 

 common in winter. Cambridge, common W. V.', Nov. to Apl. ; a few S. R. 



Nest, in trees, thirty to seventy feet from the ground. Egg*, two to four, 

 dull white, generally scantily and irregularly marked with shades of cinna- 

 mon-brown, 2 - 40 x 1-85. 



The Red-tailed Hawk resembles its near relative, the Red-shoul- 

 dered Hawk, in the Selection of its haunts, and, to a large extent, in 

 habits. It is to be distinguished in life from that species by its larger 

 size, which, even in the field, is noticeable, and by its call. The usual 



