32 



VERTEBRATA. 



THE RED-SHOULDEHED HAWK. 



Buzzard, or Black Warrior, B. Harlani, found in Louisiana, ]\lexico, and Central America \ 

 and the Caxad.v Buzzard, B. insignatus of Cassin, a small species recently brought to notice. 



Genus ARCIIIBUTEO : Archihuteo ; that is. Buzzard, par excellence. Of this there are sev- 

 eral species, all similar to those of the preceding genus, but distinguished by a tarsus densely 

 feathered to the base of the toes, yet more or less naked on the liind part. 



The RouGii-LEGGED Falcon, or Black IIawk, A. Sancti Johannis — Falco nir/er of Wilson, 

 St. Johuh Ea(jle of the British Museum Catalogue — is an abundant species in the Atlantic States, 

 and is found in all the northern parts of North America. Its length is about twenty-two inches ; 

 its colors are very variable. 



The RouGii-LEGGED BuzzARD, A. lagopus, is similar to the preceding. Above it is light 

 uraber-brown, beneath yellowish-white ; length twenty-one to twenty-three inches ; found in 

 Europe, and probably in the United States, though the bird met with here and regarded of 

 this species, may be the young of the A. Sancti Johannis. 



The Western Rough-legged Buzzard, or Cacique-Buzzard, A. ferrugineus, is twenty-three 

 to twenty-five inches long, and is an extremely handsome species ; found in California. 



The White-breasted Buzzard, A. strophiatus, is a European species. 



Genus BERNIS : Pernis ; this includes the Honet-Buzzard — the Bondrec of the French, 



Wcspen-Buzard of the Germans — P. apivorus ; the length is two feet, the upper parts ashy-brown. 



beneath, white spotted. It feeds on mice, moles, hamsters, birds, reptiles, wasps, and other insects, 



also on the larvae of bees, whence it gets its popular name. This species is found sparsely in the 



central portions of Europe. 



The Crested IIoney-Buzzard, P. cristata, is found in the Indian Archipelago. 



Genus CIRCUS : Circus, includes at least a dozen species, mostly foreign, which bear the 

 general name of Harriers. The Hen Harrier of Europe — the St. Martin's Bird of the 

 French — C. cyaneus, is fourteen inches long; general color ashy-gray, but variable; builds its 

 nests in forests in marshy regions ; lives on frogs, lizards, rats, partridges, and young aquatic 



