54 
THE RED-TAILED HAWK. 
they had been sustained. On every occasion he found nothing but the legs, wings, and other 
indigestible portions of beetles, grasshoppers, and other large insects. He suggests that its 
lofty flight is for the purpose of preying upon those insects which choose the highest region of 
air for their pleasure trips, and not merely for the better convenience of seizing prey on the 
ground, as is the case with so many of the more carnivorous hawks. 
The colors with which this bird is decorated are, though simple in themselves, exceedingly 
pleasing in their general effect. The head, neck, and part of the secondaries are a grayish- 
white, and the whole of the lower parts are a whitish-ash. The back and upper portions of 
the body are ashy-black, and the pinions are deep black, as is its deeply forked tail. The legs 
are scarlet, and the claws, bill, and cere black. The Mississippi Kite, called also the Black 
Kite, has much the same locality as the Black- Shouldered Kite. On the prairies of Illinois it 
is said to be exceedingly abundant. On the Atlantic border it does not reach above the 
Carolinas. It has the same graceful flight seen in the other Kites. 
The Hook-billed Kite ( Rostrhamus sociabilis ), called, also, the Everglade Kite, is 
known in the West Indies and Florida, breeding in the everglades. It is said to be sociable 
in its habits, in this respect differing from others of the order. We have seen, however, 
Bough-legged Falcons associated in flocks of a dozen or more, hovering over low lands, and 
eagerly scanning the ground for small reptiles. In flight this Hawk resembles the Marsh 
Hawk. It feeds on small shell fish, and seems particularly adapted to marine localities. 
The Broad-winged Hawk {Buteo pennsylm.nicus ) is an inhabitant of the Eastern 
Atlantic States as far south as Florida ; occasionally seen in Arizona and Southern California. 
Its great breadth of wing, or width of secondaries, and also of its head and body, when com- 
pared to its length, seem surprising proportions. It is a u snug-built ” bird, and one of hand- 
some markings. Audubon gave this bird the character of a coward and sneak, but some of 
our later ornithologists agree in crediting it with all the courage possessed by its kindred. 
Mr. Boardman, of Calais, Maine, whose observations are very accurate, differs essentially from 
Audubon. He gives several instances of dangerous attacks upon individuals who were 
attempting to remove eggs from their nests. 
Swainson’s Hawk ( Buteo swainsoni ), called also Baird’s, is found in the western regions 
of America, as far east as the Mississippi Biver, and north to the Arctic circle. Dr. Linecum, 
an excellent observer in Texas, relates an instance of this bird following up a prairie fire to 
snatch up the small mammals and insects that are driven out by the heat. When any 
one approaches its nest on the prairie it will make a pretty bold attempt to frighten him 
away ; failing that, it tries to decoy by alighting near and screeching loudly, as if some great 
calamity had happened. On approaching, he moves off with seeming great difficulty, as if 
wounded, screeching all the time. Eventually he rises, and sweeps along just above the 
tall grass, and settles down as if to indicate the locality of the nest. H he fails to deceive 
the intruder and the latter attempts to disturb the nest, the Hawk immediately rises and 
gives fight. 
The Band-tailed Hawk ( Buteo zonocercus) is a native of Mexico and Guatemala, and is 
occasionally seen in Arizona and California. 
The Bed-shouldered Hawk {Buteo lineatus ) is an Eastern bird, extending to Florida. 
Another variety is found on the Pacific slope. This bird is excessively noisy. It is very 
common, being a resident in Hew England throughout the year. 
Bed-tailed Hawk {Buteo borealis ). This is another very common resident of the New 
England States throughout the year. Several distinct varieties of this Hawk are known in as 
many different portions of the country. This is a strong and powerful bird, having the 
faculty of soaring at great heights and at long intervals. Its habit is to watch for its prey at 
