;JU8 



NORTH AMEllICAN JJlllDS. 



lor tlieir fond lon^f after sunset, and Mv. Iiicliardson speaks of their hunting 

 lor their i)rey " hy tlie sub(hied dayli,yht wliieli ilhiininates even the niid- 

 niyht liours in tlie hiyli ])arallel.s i)f hititude." Vm- lliese nocturnal hunts it 

 is well fitted by tlie softness of its plumage, which renders its lliyht noiseless, 

 like tliat of the more nocturnal birds. 



These l)irds were once (juite abundant in tlic low lands and marshes in the 

 vicinity of IJoston, Init are now com])aratively rare. Tiiey weie abundant 

 during October and November, and again in Aiiril. They usually kept on or 





Archihuteo snnrti-jo/iannis (black pluuiugi'J. 



near the ground, appeared to feed chiefly on small (quadrupeds or reptiles, 

 were ne\er known to molest the poultry-yard, or e\'en to destroy other 

 birds. 



They were very wary, and wlion approached with a gun would slowly and 

 delil)erately move off to a safer distance. Wilson found them quite abun- 

 dant, during the winter months, in the meadows on the Delaware and Schuyl- 

 kill Ri\ er.s, near I'hiladelphia, where they are still common. Though ren- 

 dered very shy by tlie frecpient attempts made to slioot them, they would 

 never fly far at a time, usually from one tree to another, making a loud 

 squealing noise as they arose. Tlioy all disappeared early in Ajiril. 



He also speaks of them as common during winter in the lower parts 

 of jMaryland, as well as in the extensive meadows below Newark, N. J. 

 He mentions jiaving often seen this Hawk coursing over the surface of 

 meadows long after sunset, and many times in jiairs. They roost near these 

 low grounds, and tak" their station at daybreak near a ditch, watching with 

 patient vigilance for their prey. 



