462 AVES— HAWK. ..BUZZARD. 



THE MARSH HAWRi 



Is, no doubt, the same species as the ring-tailed hawk of Europe. They are 

 very common in New Jersey, where they are known by the name of mouse 

 hawk. It is said, by Bonaparte, to be the young hen-harrier. They are 

 most numerous in extensive meadows and salt marshes, over which they 

 sail very low, making frequent circuitous sweeps over the ground, in 

 search of a species of mouse, very abundant in such situations. It is 

 said by European writers to build on the ground, or on the low limbs of 

 trees. It is found at Hudson's Bay. It is particularly serviceable to the 

 rice fields of the southern states, by thehavoc it makes among the clouds of 

 rice buntings that spread so much devastation among that grain. The 

 planters consider one hawk to be equal to several negroes for alarming the 

 rice birds. 



THE RED-TAILED HAWK, OR BUZZARD,'^ 



Inhabits the whole of the United States. Among the extensive meadows 

 that border the Schuylkill and Delaware rivers below Philadelphia, where 

 flocks of larks, and where mice and moles are in great abundance, many 

 individuals of this hawk spend the greater part of the winter. Others prowl 

 about the plantations, looking for vagrant chickens; their method of seizing 

 which, is by sweeping swiftly over the spot ; and then, grappling them with 

 their talons, they bear them away to the woods. 



THE AMERICAN BUZZARD3 



Resembles the red-tailed hawk, in size and general aspect, but differs some- 

 what in color. It may perhaps on investigation be found to be the same. 

 It is more numerous than the latter, but frequents the same situations 

 in the winter. One, which was shot on the wing, lived several weeks, 

 but refused to eat. It amused itself by frequently hopping irom one end of 

 the room to the other, and sitting for hours at the Avindow, looking down 

 on the passengers below. At first, when approached by any one, he drew 

 back ; but after some time, he became quite familiar, permitting himself to 

 be handled, and shutting his eyes as if quite passive. Though he lived so 

 long without food, he was found on dissection to be exceedingly fat. 



^ F. q/aneus, hiy. ^ F. borcalis, Gmel. ^ F. buteoules, Nuttall. 



