A USEFUL HAWK 65 



acter of the previously despised and persecuted "Hen Hawk." 

 Two hundred and seventy -eight specimens contained mice; 131, 

 other mammals; 54, poultry or game birds; 51, other birds; 

 47, insects; 37, amphibians and reptiles; 13, offal; 8, craw- 

 fish, and 89 were empty. It was found that poultry and game 

 did not constitute 10 per cent of the food of this Hawk, and that 

 all other beneficial creatures preyed upon, including snakes, 

 did not increase this proportion to 15 per cent. Against this 

 small debit stands a credit of 85 per cent, made up chiefly of 

 destructive rodents. 



"It is not to be denied," says Dr. Fisher, "that a good 

 deal of poultry is destroyed by this Hawk; but the damage 

 done is usually among the less vigorous fowls, in the late fall; 

 and in view of the great number of injurious rodents as well 

 as other noxious animals which this Hawk destroys, it should 

 seem equivalent to a misdemeanor to kill one, except in the act of 

 carrying off poultry. The fact that there are robbers among 

 Hawks is no sound argument for exterminating any and every 

 one." 



This bird is very omnivorous in its habits. In the ex- 

 amination noted above, the remains of 35 species of small 

 mammals were found, of which 30 were rodents, 5 were in- 

 sectivores, and 1 (a common skunk!) was a carnivore. Of 

 birds there were only 20 species. 



The important markings of the Red-Tailed Hawk are its 

 rusty-brown tail, back and head of blackish brown, white 

 throat and light-colored breast streaked with dusky brown. 

 The immature bird has a gray tail, crossed by from six to ten 

 dark bands, and the rusty-red tone of the adult bird is every- 



