40 
RED-SHOULDERED BUZZARD. 
Falco Harlaxi, And. Birds of America, pi. 136. 
Plumage compact, feathers of the head and neck short and rounded, tibial 
feathers elongated and loose at the tips. Wings long ; first quill short, fourth 
longest, third and fifth equal, the first primaries cut out on the inner web 
towards the end. Tail longish, ample, of twelve broad, rounded feathers. 
Bill light-blue, black towards the end ; cere and angles of the mouth 
yellowish-green. Iris light yellowish- brown. Feet dull greenish-yellow, 
claws black. 
The general colour of the plumage is deep chocolate-brown, the under 
parts lighter, the feathers there being margined with light-brown. Tail 
lighter than the back, and rather narrowly barred with brownish-black, the 
tips brownish-red. Under wing-coverts whitish, spotted with deep brown. 
Length 21 inches ; extent of wings 45 ; bill along the back II, along 
the gap, from the tip of the lower mandible, li ; tarsus If. 
RED-SHOULDERED BUZZARD. 
Buteo Lineatus, Gmel. 
PLATE IX. — Hale and Female. 
The Red-shouldered Hawk, although dispersed over the greater part of 
the United States, is rarely observed in the Middle Districts, where, on the 
contrary, the Winter Falcon usually makes its appearance from the north, 
at the approach of every autumn, and is of more common occurrence. 
Kentucky, Tennessee, and other Western States, with the most Southern 
Districts of our Union, are apparently best adapted for the constant 
residence of the Red-shouldered Hawk, as in all these latter districts it is 
met with in greater numbers than in any other. 
This bird is one of the most noisy of its genus, during spring especially, 
when it would be difficult to approach the skirts of woods bordering a large 
plantation without hearing its discordant shrill notes, ka-hee, ka-hee, as it is 
seen sailing in rapid circles at a very great elevation. Its ordinary flight is 
even and protracted, excepting when it is describing the circles just men- 
tioned, when it often dives and gambols. It is amore general inhabitantof the 
woods than most of our other species, particularly during the summer, and 
in autumn and winter ; now and then only, in early spring, shewing itself in 
