BIRDS OF THE CAMBRIDGE REGION. 1 87 



in 1869 or 1870. Unfortunately it was destroyed by moths soon after Mr. Ridgway saw 

 it. I remember it, however, with perfect distinctness. Although it was very unlike any of 

 the numerous specimens of the Red-shouldered Hawk which have since come under my obser- 

 vation, I do not seriously doubt that Mr. Maynard and Mr. Ridgway were correct in referring ii 

 to that species, of which it may have been a partially albinistic representative. Biiteo cooperi 

 Cassin is now generally believed to have been based on a light phase of plumage of Buteo 

 borealis harlani (Aud.).] 



84. Buteo lineatus (Gmel.). 

 Red-shouldered Hawk. Hen Hawk. 



Permanent re.sident, common from April to November, not uncommon in wintei'. 



-NESTING DATES. 



April 10 — 20. 



Nuttall believed ' that the Red-shouldered Hawk was " never seen .... in 

 Massachusetts, nor perhaps much further [north] than the state of New York." 

 Had it occurred regularly near Cambridge in his day he could scarcely have 

 overlooked it, for he was perfectly familiar with its notes and habits, of which he 

 gives an admirable description based on personal observations made in the 

 Southern States. As early as 1867, however, I found the Red-shouldered 

 Hawk common enough in the region about Cambridge. Since then its numbers 

 have not varied greatly from year to year, nor with the different seasons, 

 although it is least numerous in winter and most conspicuous in early spring- 

 when its soaring flights and persistent screaming are likely to attract the atten- 

 tion of every one who approaches its haunts. It breeds more or less regularly in 

 retired and heavily wooded parts of Belmont, Arlington, Lexington, and \\'al- 

 tham, but I have never known its nest to be found in Cambridge or Water- 

 town. The birds, however, are often seen in the Fresh Pond Swamps and along 

 the edges of the Charles River Marshes, especially in winter. At this sea- 

 son, when they are nearly or quite silent, they are given to haunting level, 

 open country sprinkled with large, isolated trees. In some of these the Hawks 

 have favorite perches to which they resort day after day and year after year, to 

 bask in the winter sunshine and to watch for meadow mice. 



' T. Nuttall, Manual of the Ornithology of the United States and of Canada. The Land Birds, 

 1832, 107. 



