RED-SHOULDERED HAWK. 457 
mstantly betray the common family to which they belong; for this 
family likeness is never lost in the living bird, though in stuffed skins 
and preserved specimens it is frequently entirely obliterated. I have 
no hesitation, therefore, in giving it as my opinion, that the present 
and preceding birds are of the same species, differing only in age, 
both being males. Of the female I am unable at present to speak. 
Pennant, in his account of the Chocolate-colored Hawk, which is, 
very probably, the same with the present and preceding species, ob- 
serves that it preys much on Ducks, sitting on a rock, and watching 
their rising, when it instantly strikes them. 
While traversing our sea-coast and salt marshes, between Cape 
May and Egg Harbor, I was every where told of a Duck Hawk, noted 
for striking down Ducks on wing, though flying with their usual ra- 
pidity. Many extravagances were mingled with these accounts, par- 
ticularly, that it always struck the Ducks with its breast bone, which 
was universally said to project several inches, and to be strong and 
sharp. From the best verbal descriptions I could obtain of this Hawk, 
I have strong suspicions that it is no other than the Black Hawk, as its 
wings were said to be long and very pointed, the color very dark, the 
size nearly alike, and several other traits given, that seemed particu- 
larly te belong to this species. As J have been promised specimens 
of this celebrated Hawk next winter, a short time will enable me to 
determine the matter more satisfactorily. Few gunners in that quar- 
ter are unacquainted with the Duck Hawk, as it often robs them of 
their wounded birds before they are able to reach them. 
Since writing the above, I have ascertained that the Duck Hawk 
is not this species, but the celebrated Peregrine Falcon. a figure and 
description of which will be given hereafter. 
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK. — FALCO LINEATUS. — Fic. 210. 
Arct. Zool. p. 206, No. 102.— Lath. i. 56, No. 36. — Turt. Syst. p. 153.— Peale’s 
Museum, No. 205. 
BUTEO? LINEATUS. — Jarvine.* 
Falco (sub-genus Circus) hyemalis, Bonap. Synop. p. 33. — Red-shouldered 
Hawk, Aud. pl. 56, male and female; Orn. Biog. i. p. 296. 
Tuts species is more rarely met with than either of the former. 
Its haunts are in the neighborhood of the sea. It preys on Larks, 
Sandpipers, and the Small Ringed Plover, and frequently on Ducks. 
* This bird is certainly distinct from the F. hyematis of this volume; and, inde- 
endent of the distinctions of plumage, the very different habits of both, pointed out 
p. Mr. Audubon, can hardly be reconciled. All the characters and habits of the 
bird lean much more to the Goshawks ; it delights in woody countries, builds on 
trees, and is much more active. The plumage generally is that of the Buzzards 
and Circi ; but the under parts present a combination of the transverse barring of 
Astur. In addition to the description of Wilson, Audubon observes, that this | 
a 
