BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA 
129 
eight, principally field-mice ( Arvicola) and other small quadrupeds, also 
some few small birds; in nine of these one hundred and twenty-eight 
hawks, small birds were present in addition to the quadrupeds. Four¬ 
teen had fed on chickens; six, small birds—meadowlarks and sparrows; 
six, rabbits; three, quail; three, red squirrels; three, mice and insects; 
three, snakes; two, remains of skunk; two, carrion; one, ham skin; one, 
meat, probably beef. I have repeatedly found three and four mice in 
the viscera of one bird, oftentimes five, and in a few instances as many 
as seven of these destructive little rodents were obtained from the crop 
and stomach of one hawk. 
Note. —Harlan’s Hawk (Buteo harlani, Aud.) mentioned, page 237, in first edi¬ 
tion of Birds of Pennsylvania , is not a distinct species but a race or “form ” of the 
Red-tail. The technical name of Harlan’s Hawk should be, Mr. Ridgway says, 
Buteo borealis harlani (Aud.). See Auk. Vol. vii, No. 2, p. 205. The only specimen 
of this variety of the Red-tailed Hawk which I have heard of in Pennsylvania was a 
female captured by Dr. W. Van Fleet, of Renovo, in January, 1875, near Watson- 
town, Northumberland county. 
Buteo lineatus (Gmel.). 
Red-shouldered Hawk ; Winter Falcon. 
Description. 
Total length: Female, 21 to 23 inches; extent about 44 inches; wing 14; tail 9 
inches. Male, 18 to 20 inches ; extent about 40 ; wing, 12 ; tail, 8 inches. 
Adult .—Shoulders rich reddish-brown, rest of upper parts blackish, spotted with 
reddish-brown, white and dusky; primaries blackish above and spotted with white ; 
tail with three or four broad black bars, between which are narrow white bands, tip 
of tail whitish ; under parts reddish-brown more or less streaked with dusky and 
barred with white. 
Young. —The upper parts brownish varied with rusty and whitish. The shoulders 
in many specimens show considerable red ; tail brownish with several small blackish 
bars, lower parts white and yellowish-white, with stripes and large oblong spots of 
brown. 
Habitat .—Eastern North America, west to Texas and the plains, south to the Gulf 
coast and Mexico. 
During the winter these hawks frequent principally the large water 
courses, meadow-lands, and the vicinity of ponds, and not unfrequently 
an individual of this species can be observed on its perch overlooking a 
spring-head. When the streams and meadows are frozen I have noticed 
that they especially resort to such localities as last named. When dis¬ 
turbed from its perch it utters, in a plaintive and impatient voice, the 
note, heeo , keeo. Its flight, generally short, is graceful and very owl¬ 
like. This hawk, like its relative, the Red-tail, may be observed sit¬ 
ting by the hour on some favorite tree or stake adjacent to swampy 
9 Birds. 
