Wayne: Birds of South Carolina. 75 



140. Buteo platypterus (Vieill.). BroAd-winged Hawk. 

 The Broad-winged Hawk is so rare on the coast that during the 



past twenty-five years I have seen but two birds. The first was 

 identified by Dr. A. K. Fisher, in whose company I was, on April 

 26, 1886, eighteen miles from Charleston. This specimen was 

 flying at a distance but was readily identified by Dr. Fisher. I 

 shot the second specimen, January 15, 1889, seven miles from 

 Charleston. It is surprising that this species is not abundant 

 in the forests along the coast, as the country is apparently well 

 adapted to its wants. It is exceedingly abundant near Monti- 

 cello, Florida, where in the spring and summer of 1894 I found 

 it breeding commonly. I know of no hawk of the genus 

 Buteo which soars as high in the air as this species. The Broad- 

 winged hawk seems to prefer a hilly country and dense forests. 

 In winter this species is found as far south as northern South 

 America. As far as my information goes the capture of this 

 bird remains the only authentic record for the State. It proba- 

 bly occurs, however, along the upper Savannah River. 



141. Aquila chrysaetos (Linn.). Golden Eagle. 



I have never positively identified this fine species alive, and 

 it is a rara avis on or near the coast. There are two mounted 

 specimens of this eagle in the Charleston Museum. One was 

 taken by Thomas Porcher Ravenel, Esq. (a brother of Henry 

 W. Ravenel, the botanist), at or near Pinopolis, and the other 

 specimen 1 was taken by Mr. S. J. L. Matthewes, in St. Andrew's 

 Parish, which is just across the Ashley River and near the city 

 of Charleston. Both birds were taken in winter, and the one 

 which was shot by Mr. Matthewes had killed a Wild Turkey 

 (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) , and was shot while eating it. 



The Golden Eagle is not infrequently seen and taken in the 

 interior of the State and may breed in the mountainous parts. 

 It is very abundant in Colorado and California, where it breeds 

 freely, placing its nests on cliffs or rocky ledges, as well as on 

 trees. This species breeds as far north (in North America) as 

 the Arctic regions. 



142. Haliseetus leucocephalus (Linn.). Bald Eagle. 



The Bald Eagle is a permanent resident and breeds locally 

 along the coast in the wilder and less-settled portions. The 

 birds breed on the mainland as well as on the coast islands, but 



' Spec. No. 97. 



