AND AMERICAN RURAL SPORTS 
229 
RED-TAILED HAWK. 
FALCO BOREALIS. 
[Plate XX.] 
Falco Borealis. Gmel. Syst. Nat. Vol. i. p. 266. — La- 
tham. Ind. Ornith. Vol. i. p. 25. Arct. Zool. p. 205, 
No. 100. Ch. Buonaparte, Synops, p. 32. Wilson, 
Am. Orn. 2d ed. Vol. i. p. 82. American Buzzard , 
Lath. i. 50. Turt. Syst. p. 151. F. aquilinus , cauda 
ferruginea, Great Eagle Hawk, Bartram, p. 290. 
Philadelphia Museum. 
This species of the Hawk is common throughout the 
United States, and may be found, during each season of the 
year, in the Northern, Middle, Western, and Southern 
States. They descend, in the winter season, in some mea- 
sure, from the higher latitudes, to less severe climates, and 
are very abundant in the Middle States. In the lower parts 
of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, they are more commonly 
to be seen during the autumn and winter, particularly in 
the regions of well-cultivated farms and extensive meadows. 
It is one of the most daring and ravenous of our birds of 
prey, and not particular as to the kind of food to be 
devoured. It, however, derives its chief support from rabbits, 
quails, larks, and poultry; and, in the absence of these, rats, 
mice, and other vermin. Mr. Audibon remarks, “ I have 
seen this species pounce on soft-shelled tortoises, and 
amusing enough it was to see the latter scramble towards 
the water, enter it, and save themselves from the claws of 
the Hawk by diving. I am not aware that this Hawk is 
ever successful in these attacks, as I have not on any occa- 
sion found any portion of the skin, head, or feet of tortoises, 
in the stomachs of the many Hawks of this species which I 
have killed and examined. Several times, however, I have 
found portions of bull-frogs in their stomachs.” 
In the autumn, when that interesting and vigilant guar- 
dian, the king bird, has ceased its parental duties, and taken 
its final leave for the southern climate, then it is, that the 
Red-tailed Hawk may be seen prowling about farm houses, 
to the terror of the fowls, and consternation of the country 
dames, whose lamentations at the loss of poultry, and 
tbreatenings of revenge, bespeak the ferocity and destruc- 
tive energies of this common enemy. 
The daring boldness of this Hawk is without parallel in 
its kind. Conscious of the superiority only of man, it 
seems, guided by instinct, to delay its depredations until 
the farmer is absent from his home, and then, with a rapid 
flight, it leaves its seat of observation, and silent as death, 
with wings motionless, it skims over the top of the orchard, 
3 M 
direct for the farm house, appearing to choose this dense 
collection of foliage to hide it from view, until the first inti- 
mation of its approach is resounded from a hundred cack- 
ling throats, that the enemy is at hand, and the work of 
destruction done. By one swoop, scarcely retarded in its 
progress, this bird of prey seizes its victim in its powerful 
talons, and bears it off, still alive, and writhing in the ago- 
nies of death, to the wood. 
The flight of this Hawk is regular and majestic when 
sailing in the air. In the autumn, when the cooling breezes 
of the north are playing through the faded leaves of the 
forests, then may be seen against a cloudless sky, the spiral 
movements of this bird. At first, it leaves its lofty seat 
with a few fluttering motions of the wings, and then with 
motionless and outstretched pinions, it cleaves the air,inacon- 
tinual circular flight, ascending gradually at every revolution, 
until it is finally lost to human ken. But when in search of 
prey, the majesty of the bird is obscured by its predatory 
designs. Its sight, which is only surpassed by that of the 
eagle, is most wonderful. Passing rapidly over woods or 
fields, the slightest motion on the earth or in the grass, is 
detected by the keenness of its vision ; then its progress is 
immediately retarded by alighting on a neighbouring tree, 
or making a contracted circular flight over the spot whence 
the motion proceeded, until the cause which arrested its at- 
tention is fully ascertained; and if there be a subject for its 
appetite, it seldom fails to secure it. When seated on a 
tree, this Hawk is grave and watchful; its penetrating eye 
pierces through the thickly matted grass, and with the most 
intense vigilance, directs its attention to the spot where the 
prey lies concealed, and by one bound, like lightning it de- 
scends to the earth, and with unerring aim, secures the hap- 
less victim. 
In the fall of 1826, I was hunting in Jersey, and whilst 
beating with my dogs an extensive stubble field, my atten- 
tion was attracted by the well-known screams of the Red- 
tailed Hawk. I had been unsuccessful on ground which I 
knew abounded with game, and was at a loss to account for 
its disappearance, until the cause was made known by the 
vociferations of this Hawk. Casting my eyes toward the 
extremity of the field, I discovered one of these birds sail- 
ing over that part of it which contained an extensive aspa- 
ragus bed, where, suddenly the bird’s attention was drawn 
to some object sheltered beneath the density of the aspara- 
gus. In a moment its progress was retarded, and balancing 
itself in the air for a few moments, at the height of perhaps 
forty feet, it made a sudden plunge into the grass, and there 
remained. I took advantage of this shelter, and proceeded 
rapidly towards the spot for the purpose of shooting the 
Hawk; but ere I reached the desired place, it rose again to 
the same height in the air as before, and hovered for a con- 
