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MUSEUM BULLETIN NO. 28. 
winged or woodland hawks; (4) Buteos, buzzard hawks or soarers, and 
Rough-legs; (5) Eagles; (6) Falcons, noble or long-wmged chasers; 
(7) Ospreys or Fish Hawks. 
vultures. 
The vultures are represented by only one species in Canada, the 
Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura. This is sometimes called Turkey 
Buzzard, though strictly speaking it is not a true buzzard— a term which 
can be correctly applied only to one of the following groups. It is 
found in the more southern parts of the prairie provinces, but, as it 
confines itself strictly to carrion and is unfitted by physical structure 
for aggression, its effect is neutral or wholly beneficial. _ There are tales 
of its picking out the eyes of young lambs, but there is certainly little 
danger of its doing this unless the mother is unable to put up even a 
slight show of defence. t 
The Turkey Buzzard can be easily recognized by its large size 
(30 inches long) and sooty black colour unrelieved except by the red 
of its bare, featherless head and neck, which is plainly visible at consider- 
able distances. 
harriers. 
The Harriers are represented by only one species, the Marsh Hawk 
(Circus hudsonicus). In life it is a rather large-appearing hawk ( 19-22 
inches long), but in the hand the smallness of its body and the lightness 
of its construction are evident. It has not the strength nor the weight 
for attacking any but small prey. It beats about over the marshes, 
meadows, or open fields and subsists almost wholly on mice and such 
small deer. Occasionally small birds arc taken,, and small ducks that 
have been wounded are sometimes attacked by it, but it rarely if ever 
threatens whole or healthy birds of this size. Young chicks of both 
wild and domestic species are taken on occasion, but it usually avoids 
the immediate vicinity of buildings and has not often the courage 
to stoop on the poultry yard. The young grouse it takes must be counted 
against it, but as out of 124 stomachs examined only one contained evid- 
ence of this, such cases arc probably the result of occasional opportunity, 
rather than regular habit. The number of mice it takes is large and 
itjmust be ranked high as a mouser. It is, therefore, a bird that is 
strictly beneficial and should have every protection. 
The Marsh Hawk (Plate I A) when flying exhibits long pointed 
wings and a long narrow tail. In outline, therefore, it resembles. the 
falcons, but its tail is longer than theirs and its action and habit of flight 
