HAWKING 23^ 



chiefly on the markings that they fail to see. For 

 example one of the best recent handbooks gives a 

 key for field identification in which the presence 

 or absence of cross-bars on the under parts are 

 cardinal points ! 



With the exception of the marsh hawk, the 

 bald eagle and the fish hawk or osprey — all of 

 which are easily recognized — the hawks of this re- 

 gion in particular and of Northeastern America 

 in general fall into three groups : viz, the falcons, 

 the buteos and the accipiters. These groups are 

 fundamental, easily identified, and, if once 

 learned, the key to the hawks is within reach. 



The falcons can be distinguished by their long, 

 narrow, pointed wings that reach nearly to the 

 end of their long tails when at rest, and by their 

 swift and graceful flight. The buteos are dis- 

 tinguished by their broad wings, their short tails 

 and their frequent habit of soaring in circles. 

 The accipiters are distinguished by their short, 

 broad wings which reach only to the base of their 

 long tails, and by their habit of alternately sail- 

 ing and flapping in flight. 



Tn order to show at a glance the difference in 



