236 BEACH GRASS 



and disappeared among the dunes. The ducks 

 appeared not a whit disturbed and paid no atten- 

 tion to their very transient visitor. 



Of the buteos, the smallest is the broad-winged 

 hawk, much larger is the red-shouldered hawk, 

 next in grandeur the red-tailed hawk, while the 

 rough-legged is the largest of all, nearly as large 

 as an eagle. The broad-winged is about the 

 size of a crow and usually very unsuspicious so 

 that its recognition is an easy one. One may 

 often hear its distinctive cry, a mournful double 

 whistle suggestive of the call of the wood pewee. 



A large buteo soaring in the distance should be 

 examined carefully with the glasses. If it is an 

 adult red-tailed hawk the foxy-red color of the 

 tail seen from either above or below will 

 flash at times, as the light strikes it, and will pro- 

 claim its identity. This species is a trifle larger 

 than the red-shouldered hawk, but the difference 

 in size without actual comparison is of little value 

 for identification. If the tail is not red, it is 

 either an immature red-tailed hawk or a red- 

 shouldered hawk. In the latter bird the russet 

 brown shoulders can be seen only under the most 



