BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 87 



these destructive little rodents were obtained from the crop and 

 stomach of one Hawk. 



339. Buteo lineatus (GMEL.). 



Red Shouldered Hawk. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Adult. Wing coverts, from its flexure to the body, fine bright rufous ; breast and 

 other lower parts of the body paler orange rufous, many feathers with transverse 

 bars and spots of white, which predominate on the abdomen and under tail coverts > 

 entire upper parts reddish-brown ; on the head mixed with rufous, and with white 

 spots on the wing coverts arid shorter quills and rump ; quills brownish-black, with 

 white spots on their outer webs, and with bars of a lighter shade of brown and of 

 white on their inner webs ; tail brownish-black, with about five transverse bands of 

 white and tipped with white ; bill blue-black ; cere and feet yellow ; iris brown. 



Young. Entire under parts yellowish-white, with longitudinal stripes and oblong 

 spots of dark-brown ; throat dark-brown ; upper parts lighter ashy-brown, with 

 many partially concealed spots and bars of white; quills dark-brown, with wide 

 transverse bars of rufous and white on both webs ; tail ashy-brown, with numerous 

 bands, pale-brownish and rufous white ; tail beneath silvery-white ; legs and feet 

 greenish-yellow. 



Total length : Female, 21 to 23 inches ; extent, about 44 inches ; wing, 14 ; tail, 9 

 inches. Male, 18 to 20 inches ; extent, about 40 ; wing, 12 ; tail, 8 inches. 



Hab. Eastern North America, west to Texas and the plains, south to the Gulf 

 Coast and Maine. 



During the winter these Hawks frequent principally the large water 

 courses, meadow-lands, and the vicinity of ponds, and not unfre- 

 quently an individual of this species can be observed on its perch 

 overlooking a spring-head. When the streams and meadows are 

 frozen, I have noticed that they especially resort to such localities as 

 last named. When disturbed from its perch it utters, in a plaintive 

 and impatient voice, the note, keeo< keeo. Its flight, which is generally 

 short, is graceful and very owl-like. This Hawk, like its relative, the 

 Red-tail, may be observed sitting by the hour on some favorite tree 

 or stake adjacent to swampy or boggy ground, watching for small 

 quadrupeds and batraehians, which constitute its principal fare. Al- 

 though this species is a native in this State it has never been my 

 good fortune to find a nest. 



From '* Birds of Connecticut,'- by Doctor William Wood, the follow- 

 ing mention of the nest, eggs and habits is taken : 



" Nidification commences soon after their arrival from the south. 

 Oviposition usually occurs from the middle of April to the first of 

 May. In one instance I took eggs on the first day of April that had 

 been incubated at least a week, and then, again, I have taken them 

 as late as the middle of May. More eggs can be obtained of this bird 

 in this vicinity than of any other of our Rapacia, and I think it may 

 safely be said, all others. The nest is usually placed in the fork of a 



