6 
rail on the marshes of the Delaware River, and 
have seen it catch rail and reed birds, and I have 
killed it in the act. It isa very common bird, and 
found over the whole country. I have found it 
in Maine and as far west as Minnesota; it keeps 
in thick timber in breeding season; I have found 
two nests in a day not more than thirty feet 
apart, on small pine trees; one of the nests con- 
tained eight, and the other six eggs, and I have 
often found them with five; Ihave also found its 
nest built on high rocks in the mountains of 
Pennsylvania. The male is much smaller than 
the female, and in some cases the latter is twice 
the size. 
Buteo Borealis —Vreill. 
Red-tailed Hawk. 
It is generally called the hen-hawk, and is 
widely distributed over the country. I find it in 
all parts I have visited, and find it breeding in 
all heavy timber country. It is very abundant 
in the winter, about or near Philadelphia, as I have 
obtained as high as fifty specimens in one season. 
The young bird is thought by some tobe a separate 
bird, owing to the tail being barred instead of red, 
as in the old birds. I have found it very plenty 
in the western country, where it feeds mostly on 
prairie chickens—also on frogs, snakes and mice. 
I have seen it pursue a rabbit and devour the most 
of it at a meal, after which it is easily approached 
andshet. Nests on trees; eggs four in number. 
