270 RED-TAILED HAWK. 



I have seen this species pounce on soft-shelled tortoises, and amusing 

 enough it was to see the latter scramble towards the water, enter it, and 

 save themselves from the claws of the Hawk by immediately diving. I 

 am not aware that this Hawk is ever successful in these attacks, as I have 

 not on any occasion found any portion of the skin, head, or feet of tor- 

 toises in the stomachs of the many Hawks of this species which I have 

 killed and examined. Several times, however, I have found portions of 

 bull-frogs in their stomach. 



All our Falcons are pestered with parasitic flying ticks. Those found 

 amongst the plumage of the Red-tailed Hawk, hke aU others, move 

 swiftly sidewise between the feathers, issue from the skin, and shift from 

 one portion of the body to another on wing, and do not abandon the bird 

 for a day or two after the latter is dead. These ticks are large, and of 

 an auburn colour. 



The body of the Red-tailed Hawk is large, compact, and muscular. 

 These birds protrude their talons beyond their head in seizing their prey, 

 as well as while fighting in the air, in the manner shown in the Plate. I 

 have caught several birds of this species by baiting a steel-trap with a live 

 chicken. 



The animal represented as held in one of~the feet of the female, is 

 usually called a rabbit in all parts of the United States, but is evidently 

 a true hare. It never burrows, but has a Jhrm to rest in, and to which 

 it returns in the manner of the common hare of Europe. I may hereaf- 

 ter present you, kind reader, with a full account of this American species, 

 which occurs in great abundance in the United States. 



I have only here to add, that amongst the American farmers the com- 

 mon name of our present bird is the Hen-haiok, while it receives that of 

 Grand mangeur de poides from the Creoles of Louisiana. 



Falco borealis, Gmel. Syst. Nat. vol- i. p. 2C6 — Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. i. p. 25 



Ch. Bonaparte, Synops. p. 32. 

 Amebican Buzzard, Lath. Synops. vol. i. p. SO. 

 Ked-tailed Hawk, Falco borealis, JVils. Amer. Ornith, vol. vi. p. 75. PI. 52. 



fig. 1. Adult. 

 American Buzzard, or White-breasted Hawk, Falco leverianus, Wih. 



Amer. Ornith. vol. vi. p. 78. PI. 51. fig. 3. Young. 



Adult Male. Plate LI. Fig. 1. 



