AND AMERICAN RURAL SPORTS 



229 



RED-TAILED HAWK. 

 F^LCO BOREJILIS. 



[Plate XX.] 



Falco Borealis. Gmel. Syst. Nat. Vol. i. p. 266. — La- 

 tham. Ind. Ornith. Vol. i. p. 25. Arct. Zool. p. 205, 

 No. 100. Ch. Buonaparte, Synops, p. 32. Wilson, 

 Am. Orn. 2d ed. Vol. i. p. 82. American Buzzard, 

 Lath. i. 50. Turt. Syst. p. 151. F. aquilinus, cauda 

 ferriiginea, Ch-eat Eagle Haivk, Bartram, p. 290. 

 Philadelphia Museum. 



This species of the Hawk is common throughout the 

 United States, and may be found, during each season of the 

 year, in the Northern, Middle, Western, and Southern 

 States. They descend, in the winter season, in some mea- 

 sure, from the higher latitudes, to less severe climates, and 

 are very abundant in the Middle States. In the lower f)arts 

 of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, they are more commonly 

 to be seen during the autumn and winter, particularly in 

 the regions of well-cultivated farms and extensive meadows. 

 It is one of the most daring and ravenous of our birds of 

 prey, and not particular as to the kind of food to be 

 devoured. It, however, derives its chief support from rabbits, 

 quails, larks, and poultry; and, in the absence of these, rats, 

 mice, and other vermin. Mr. Audibon remarks, " 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 diving. I am not aware that this Hawk is 

 ever successful in these attacks, as I have not on any occa- 

 sion found any portion of the skin, head, or feet of tortoises, 

 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 stomachs." 



In the autumn, when that interesting and vigilant guar- 

 dian, the king bird, has ceased its parental duties, and taken 

 its final leave for the southern climate, then it is, that the 

 Red-tailed Hawk may be seen prowling about farm houses, 

 to the terror of the fowls, and consternation of the country 

 dames, whose lamentations at the loss of poultry, and 

 threatenings of revenge, bespeak the ferocity and destruc- 

 tive energies of this common enemy. 



The daring boldness of this Hawk is without parallel in 

 its kind. Conscious of the superiority only of man, it 

 seems, guided by instinct, to delay its depredations until 

 the farmer is absent from his home, and then, with a rapid 

 flight, it leaves its seat of observation, and silent as death, 

 with wings motionless, it skims over the top of the orchard, 

 3M 



direct for the farm house, appearing to choose this dense 

 collection of foliage to hide it from view, until the first inti- 

 mation of its approach is resounded from a hundred cack- 

 ling throats, that the enemy is at hand, and the work of 

 destruction done. By one swoop, scarcely retarded in its 

 progress, this bird of prey seizes its victim in its powerful 

 talons, and bears it off, still alive, and writhing in the ago- 

 nies of death, to the wood. 



The flight of this Hawk is regular and majestic when 

 sailing in the air. In the autumn, when the cooling breezes 

 of the north are playing through the faded leaves of the 

 forests, then may be seen- against a cloudless sky, the spiral 

 movements of this bird. At first, it leaves its lofty seat 

 with a few fluttering motions of the wings, and then with 

 motionless and outstretched pinions, it cleaves the air,inacon- 

 tinual circular flight, ascending gradually at every revolution, 

 until it is finally lost to human ken. But when in search of 

 prey, the majesty of the bird is obscured by its predatory 

 designs. Its sight, which is only surpassed by that of the 

 eagle, is most wonderful. Passing rapidlj^ over woods or 

 fields, the slightest motion on the earth or in the grass, is 

 detected by the keenness of its vision; then its progress is 

 immediately retarded by alighting on a neighbouring tree, 

 or making a contracted circular flight over the spot whence 

 the motion proceeded, until the cause which arrested its at- 

 tention is fully ascertained; and if there be a subject for its 

 appetite, it seldom fails to secure it. When seated on a 

 tree, this Hawk is grave and watchful; its penetrating eye 

 pierces through the thickly matted grass, and with the most 

 intense vigilance, directs its attention to the spot where the 

 prey lies concealed, and by one bound, like lightning it de- 

 scends to the earth, and with unerring aim, secures the hap- 

 less victim. 



In the fall of 1826, I was hunting in Jersey, and whilst 

 beating with my dogs an extensive stubble field, my atten- 

 tion was attracted by the well-known screams of the Red- 

 tailed Hawk. I had been unsuccessful on ground which I 

 knew abounded with game, and was at a loss to account for 

 its disappearance, until the cause was made known bj^ the 

 vociferations of this Hawk. Casting my eyes toward the 

 extremity of the field, I discovered one of these birds sail- 

 ing over that part of it which contained an extensive aspa- 

 ragus bed, where, suddenly tlie bird's attention was drawn 

 to some object sheltered beneath the density of the aspara- 

 gus. In a moment its progress was retarded, and balancing 

 itself in the air for a few moments, at the height of perhaps 

 forty feet, it made a sudden plunge into the grass, and there 

 remained. I took advantage of this shelter, and proceeded 

 rapidly towards the spot for the purpose of shooting the 

 Hawk; but ere I reached the desired place, it rose again to 

 the same height in the air as before, and hovered for a con- 



