780 Report of State Geologist. 



The fact that it is not often found in this State relieves the farmer 

 of one of the most destructive enemies of poultry. Its size, strength 

 and activity and rapacity, added to its well-known fearlessness, render 

 it, in localities where it is comnion, a great pest. Besides poultry, they 

 eat Ruffed Grouse, Bobwhites and Doves, Rabbits and Squirrels. The 

 report by Dr. A. K. Fisher on 28 stomachs of this species examined 

 <how that 9 contained poultry or game birds; 2, other birds; 10, mam- 

 mals; 3, insects; 1, centipede, and 8 were empty (Bull. No. 3 Division 

 of Orn. and Mam., IT. S. Dept. of Agriculture, p. 46). 



In some localities the Goshawk so persistently hunts the Ruffed 

 Grouse that it is commonly known as "Partridge Hawk." Audubon 

 tells us that, as he was passing down the Ohio, he observed one of these 

 Hawks attack a flock of Grackles, which were crossing the river, and 

 kill four or five of them. After killing each one by a squeeze, it was 

 pennitted to fall on the water. The Hawk finally returned and picked 

 up all the floating birds. 



In appearance, it is simply a larger Cooper's Hawk, which species it 

 resembles in its flight and its hunting habits and its nesting. 



It is said to breed in Michigan (Cook, Birds of Mich., p. 74), and in 

 the mountains of Penns3'lTania, where it has been noted by Dr. War- 

 ren (The Auk, July, 1897, pp. 317, 318). 



74. (Jen-US BUTEO Covier. 



a'. Four outer primaries with inner webs eraarginated. 



6'. Tarsus more than twice as long as middle toe. B. lineatus (Gmel.). 136 



b'^. Tarsus less than twice as long as middle toe. 



e.^ . Tail irregularly mottled with grayish dusky, rusty and white, with dark 



band near tip; general color black or blackish; base of feathers pure 



white. B. borealis harlani (Aud.). 135 



<■''. Tail, in adult, bright chestnut red above, with a narrow black bar near 



tip, brownish gray banded with black in young ; general color dark brown, 



much barred and streaked. B. borealis (Gmel.). 134 



a^. Three outer primaries with inner webs emarginated; wing less than 12.00. 



B. latissimus (Wila.). 137 



*134. (337). Buteo borealis (Gmel.). 



Bed-tailed Hawk. 



Adult. — Upper surface of tail, deep rusty rufous, with usually a 

 black subterminal band; above, blackish-brown, variegated with gray, 

 fulvous and whitish; below, white, with more or less buffy, belly 

 streaked with dusky or brown. Immature. — Tail, bright gray, without 

 any shade of red, and crossed by six to ten regular dark bands. A 

 lironomiced blackish zone across the upper part of the belly. 



