366 WINTER HAWK. 



time briefly described the habits of the latter with accuracy, I cannot 

 think that the' bird figured by him was of that species. My excellent 

 friend Charles Lucian Bonaparte, has probably been led by Mr Wil- 

 son's error to consider the Winter Hawk and the Red-shouldered Hawk 

 as identical. I have killed many individuals of both species, and know- 

 ing as I do that the Red-shouldered Hawk is a constant resident in the 

 Southern States, where I have often destroyed its nest and young, and 

 where very few Winter Hawks are ever seen, even during winter, I can- 

 not hesitate a moment to pronounce them different and distinct species. 



The Winter Hawk generally rests at night on the ground, amongst 

 the tall sedges of the marshes. From such places I have on several occa- 

 sions started it, whilst in search of Ducks, and have shot it as it flew low 

 over the ground, attempting to escape unobserved. I have never seen 

 this Hawk in pursuit of any other birds than those of its own species, 

 each individual chasing the others from the district which it has selected 

 for itself. 



The cry of the Winter Hawk is clear and prolonged, and resembles 

 the syllables kay-o. After uttering these notes, it generally alights. 

 Towards spring they associate in small parties of four or five, to perform 

 their migrations. In this respect the species resembles most of the Marsh 

 Hawks or Hen-harriers. 



Falco htebialis, Gmel. Syst. Nat. voL i. p. 274 — Lath. Ind. Omith. vol. i. p. 34— 



Ch. Bonaparte, Synops. of Birds of the United States, p. 33. 

 Winter Falcon, Falco hyemalis, Wils. Amer. Ornith. vol. iv. p. 73. PL 35. 



Adult Male. Plate LXXT. 



Bill shortj as broad as deep at the base, the sides convex, the dorsal 

 outline convex from the base ; upper mandible cerate, the edges blunt, 

 slightly inflected, with an obtuse lobe towards the curvature, the tip tri- 

 gonal, deflected, very acute; lower mandible involute at the edges, a 

 little truncate at the end. Nostrils round, lateral, with a soft papilla in 

 the centre. Head rather large, neck and body rather slender. Tarsus 

 rather slender, anteriorly scutellate ; toes scutellate above, scaly on the 

 sides, scabrous and tuberciilate beneath ; middle and outer toe connected at 

 the base by a small membrane ; claws roundish, curved, slender, very acute. 



Plumage compact, imbricated ; feathers of the head and neck narrow 

 towards the tips, of the back broad and roimded ; tibial feathers elongat- 



