268 BIRDS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



marshes, where they watch for moles, mice and frogs, and oc- 

 casionally encounter a wounded bird. Their appearance is 

 heavy and inanimate, suiting well with the dreary places 

 where they reside ; but as they are supposed to resemble the 

 owls in their vision, perhaps they make up, by activity at 

 night, for their sluggish listlessness by day. Their home is 

 in the north, where they doubtless rear their young ; but their 

 habits in this respect are very little known ; it is only in win- 

 ter, when their food fails, that they come into our State, and 

 sometimes proceed to the south as far as Maryland. 



The Short-winged Buzzard, Falco buteoides, is found in 

 this State ; more abundantly at the approach of winter than at 

 any other season. In New York, it is said to commit depreda- 

 tions on the poultry ; but here, it is not thought to have activ- 

 ity and courage enough for an enterprising and successful rob- 

 ber. It remains inactive on the margins of swamps and mead- 

 ows ; making a hoarse cry at intervals, to which its mate 

 replies. But if not remarkable for spirit, it has some good 

 traits of character ; it is said that if the female is killed, the 

 male will attend and feed the young till they are able to pro- 

 vide for themselves ; but of their habits in this respect, we 

 know nothing from observation ; they co not breed in this 

 State, though Pennant says that they remain in New York 

 through the year, and baild in the beginning of May. 



The Red-tailed Hawk, Falco borealis, is more certainly 

 known as a destroyer of poultry. Though shy at other sea- 

 sons, in winter they approach the farm, sweeping near the 

 ground and snatching a wandering hen or chicken. But, like 

 the crow, they seem to have an intuitive perception of the use 

 and reach of the gun, and if they see a person armed, they give 

 a scream of disgust, and sail away far beyond his reach. As 

 farmers give them the name of hen-hawks, and treat them ac- 

 cordingly, they are compelled to exert much caution in their 

 distant intercourse with n.an. They are able to do this suc- 

 cessfully, by means of their rapid and powerful flight ; they 

 can float high over a ^A^hole plantation without a single flap- 



