47 



RED-TAILED HAWK. 



{Buteo Borealis.) 

 This species is more familiarly known as the Chicken 



Hawk. It makes its abode with us most of the year, 

 being seen in winter quite frequently, soaring around 

 in majestic circles, almost comparable to the flight of 

 the eagle. Its eye is capable of viewing large tracts of 

 land at once, and when any unlucky victim is seen, the 

 hawk descends upon it with the swiftness of an arrow, 

 and bears it away to some retreat in the woods. Its 

 food consists of rabbits, field mice, young chickens and 

 birds. This specie is quite large, the plumage dark 

 brown above and white below, upper side of the tail a 

 rich brownish red. The nest is placed in a tall tree, 

 and is composed of sticks, leaves and other large coarse 

 materials. Eggs, four or five, ground work light, vari- 

 ously marked and blotched with dark brown. 



turkeyIbuzzard. 



(Cathartes Aura.) 

 Every one is familiar with this useful scavanger of 



our land. It may be seen any time of the year, but 

 more frequently in summer. It is considerably larger 

 than the crow, color sooty black, excepting around the 

 neck there is a dull red ring. The head is almost with- 

 out feathers, which is said to be of great importance to 

 the health of this bird, owing to its food which is al- 

 ways caron. A penalty has been fixed against the de- 

 struction of these useful birds, so as to prevent them 

 from being killed. They congregate in large numbers 

 around the dead body of an animal when found. The 

 nest is usually placed on the ground in the woods by 

 some log or fallen tree. Eggs are two in number, larg- 

 er than a hen's egg, much marked with green and brown. 



