Kites, Hawks, Eagles, etc. 



were empty. Let the guns be turned toward those bloodthirsty, 

 audacious miscreants, Cooper's, the sharp-shinned hawk, and 

 the goshawk, and away from the red-tailed and red-shouldered 

 species, beneficent, majestic kings of the air! Longfellow, in 

 "The Birds of Killingworth," among the "Tales of a Wayside 

 Inn," has written a defence of the hawks, among other birds, 

 that the Audubon societies might well use as a tract. 



Sailing in wide circles overhead like the larger red-tail, the 

 red-shouldered buzzard is a picture of repose in motion. Rising, 

 falling in long undulations, floating, balancing in a strong current 

 of the cool stratum of air far above the earth all this hardy tribe 

 delight in, now stationary on motionless wings, and again with 

 a superb swoop a very meteor for speed, the flight of this 

 hawk has been familiar to us all from childhood, yet who ever 

 tires watching its fascinating grace ? Serenely the hawk pursues 

 its way, ignoring the impudence of the small kingbird in pursuit 

 and the indignities of the crow that may not reach the dizzy 

 heights toward which it soars in wide spirals. While the mates 

 are nesting from April to August, the helpless fledglings give 

 them little opportunity to enjoy these leisurely sails; but toward 

 the end of August, particularly in September, and throughout the 

 winter, they are birds of freedom indeed. Keeyon, keeyou, they 

 scream as they sail — a cry the blue jay out of pure mischief has 

 learned to imitate to perfection. It is the red-tail, however, that 

 screams most a-wing. 



"Toward man the 'hen hawks' are naturally shy," says 

 Minot; " but it is generally easy to approach them when gorged, 

 or at other times to do so in a vehicle or on horseback. On 

 a horse I have actually passed under one. They frequently leave 

 their food when approached, instead of carrying it off in the 

 manner of many hawks. Like other barbarians, they refuse to 

 show signs of suffering, or to allow their spirit to become 

 subdued. When shot and mortally wounded they usually sail 

 on unconcernedly while their strength lasts, until obliged to fall. 

 If not dead, they turn upon their rump, and fight till the last, like 

 others of their tribe. Their eyes gleam savagely and they defend 

 themselves with both bill and talons. With these latter, if 

 incautiously treated, they can inflict severe wounds, and they 

 sometimes seize a stick with such tenacity that I have seen one 

 carried half a mile through his persistent grasp." 



320 



