BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 129 



eight, principally field-mice (Arvicola) and other small quadrupeds, also 

 some few small birds ; in nine of these one hundred and twenty-eight 

 hawks, small birds were present in addition to the quadrupeds. Four- 

 teen had fed on chickens six, small birds meadowlarks and sparrows ; 

 six, rabbits; three, quail; three, red squirrels; three, mice and insects; 

 three, snakes; two, remains of skunk; two, carrion; one, ham skin; one, 

 meat, probably beef. I have repeatedly found three and four mice in 

 the viscera of one bird, oftentimes five, and in a few instances as many 

 as seven of these destructive little rodents were obtained from the crop 

 and stomach of one hawk. 



NOTE. Harlan's Hawk (Buteo harlani, Aud.) mentioned, page 237, in first edi- 

 tion of Birds of Pennsylvania, is not a distinct species but a race or "form" of the 

 Red-tail. The technical name of Harlan's Hawk should be, Mr. Ridgway says, 

 Buteo borealis harlani (Aud.). See Auk. Vol. vii, No. 2, p. 205. The only specimen 

 of this variety of the Red-tailed Hawk which I have heard of in Pennsylvania was a 

 female captured by Dr. W. Van Fleet, of Renovo, in January, 1875, near Watson - 

 town, Northumberland county. 



Buteo lineatus (GMBL.). 



Red-shouldered Hawk ; Winter Falcon. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Total length : Female, 21 to 23 inches ; extent about 44 inches ; wing 14 ; tail 9 

 inches. Male, 18 to 20 inches ; extent about 40 ; wing, 12 ; tail, 8 inches. 



Adult. Shoulders rich reddish-brown, rest of upper parts blackish, spotted with 

 reddish-brown, white and dusky ; primaries blackish above and spotted with white ; 

 tail with three or four broad black bars, between which are narrow white bands, tip 

 of tail whitish ; under parts reddish-brown more or less streaked with dusky and 

 barred with white. 



Young. The upper parts brownish varied with rusty and whitish. The shoulders 

 in many specimens show considerable red ; tail brownish with several small blackish 

 bars, lower parts white and yellowish-white, with stripes and large oblong spots of 

 brown. 



Habitat. Eastern North America, west to Texas and the plains, south to the Gulf 

 coast and Mexico. 



During the winter these hawks frequent principally the large water 

 courses, meadow-lands, and the vicinity of ponds, and not unfrequently 

 an individual of this species can be observed on its perch overlooking 1 a 

 spring-head. When the streams and meadows are frozen I have noticed 

 that they especially resort to such localities as last named. When dis- 

 turbed from its perch it utters, in a plaintive and impatient voice, the 

 note, keeo, keeo. Its flight, generally short, is graceful and very owl- 

 like. This hawk, like its relative, the Bed-tail, may be observed sit- 

 ting by the hour on some favorite tree or stake adjacent to swampy 

 9 BIRDS. 



