200 Bird Studies. 



as South Carolina, in the whole of Florida, and along the Gulf coast to Eastern 

 Texas. It is a bird of smaller size. The adult plumage is characterized by its 

 Florida Red-shoul- lighter color, by a general absence of bright rufous, both 

 dered Hawk. above, on the head, and below. These parts are all suf- 

 Buteo lineatus aiieni Ridgw. fused with SL graylsh or whitish tinge. This is especially 

 marked on the head, sides of the face, and on the lower parts. The reddish 

 on the shoulders and lower parts is dull and often becomes buffy. Immature 

 birds are smaller and generally darker than immature representatives of the 

 more northern race. 



The Goshawk, one of the birds of falconry fame, seems typical of the 



group about to be discussed, and a word as to its life and methods will apply 



. . - to all three of the Accipiters that are found with us. Long 



American Gos- ^ , , , i , r i 



hawk. slim birds with rather short and rounded but . powerful 



Accipiter atricapiuus wiugs, they Steal upon their prey, flying rather low or 

 cw.is.). ^^^^ ^^^ ground. They hunt by preference in the thick 



woods, but are frequently seen in the open. They are fearless and daring 

 and do not seem to regard man when in pursuit of their bird victims. Any- 

 one who has shot much has now and again seen one of these bold fellows 

 steal a bird that had just been killed by the sportsman. Before the report 

 had fairly ceased to echo and while the smoke still curled from the muzzle of 

 the gun, seizing a bird nearly as large as himself the fearless robber carries, 

 him away almost before you are aware of his presence. These are the hawks 

 whose depredations spread panic among the poultry and are a constant 

 source of dread to the woodland birds, whose clamors often announce the 

 advent of one of them ere you in your walk have discovered it. 



Of these three birds, the Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, and the 

 Goshawk, the last is much the largest, being about two feet long, the female 

 somewhat bigger. 



The adult birds have the top of the head clear black, the bases of the 

 feathers being pure white. There is a white line over the eye extending back. 

 The rest of the upper parts are bluish gray, each feather with a blackish streak 

 along its shaft. The tail is like the back in color becoming more dusky on 

 its outer feathers, and crossed by four or more obscure dusky bars, and with 

 whitish tips to the feathers. The lower parts are white, irregularly barred 

 with slaty gray, and the feathers of the throat and breast have dusky streaks 

 along their shafts. The eyes are orange yellow. 



