264 
port-unity should occur to snatch a supper. Elsewhere I have frequently seen them 
thus employed, and their persistence in destroying these pests should entitle them to 
due consideration at the hands of the farmer. Large numbers of insects, particularly 
grasshoppers, are destroyed by these birds, whose abilities as purveyors of food are 
thus of the lowest order. 
No. 
Sex. 
Locality. 
Bate. 
Collector. 
740 
cf ad. 
Los Angeles, Cal..... 
Jane — 
H. TV. Henshaw. 
135. Buteo borealis, (Grnel.), var. calurus, Cassin.—Western Red-tailed Hawk. 
The present species is of almost universal distribution in the West, and, though most 
abundant in the mountains during summer, is by no means confined exclusively to 
them, but is found more or less commonly in the low country, according to the conve¬ 
niences it finds for nidification. In California are seen the most extreme examples of 
the dark fuliginous style of coloration, which is known under the above varietal name. 
The lighter condition of plumage, which was known to earlier writers as B. montanus, 
is also found, though the proportion of these is not large, and probably it would not 
be easy to find in California an individual which was not appreciably darker than the 
usual type of this Hawk from the interior region. On the other hand, the extreme me- 
lanistic conditions, in which the rufous markings are only present in slight dashes here 
and there, and the prevailing color an extreme blackish brown, is also not common. 
Most individuals range between the two extremes, while no two are exactly alike. 
In its wide range, the habits of this Hawk undergo but little change. It is every¬ 
where the same heavy-winged, sluggish bird, its nature causing it to prey upon the 
very humblest kind of game, and even to eat carrion when this is handiest. In com¬ 
pany with the Swaiuson’s Buzzard, it may often be seen in the villages of the Gophers, 
and like that bird, is more prone to capture these animals by lying in wait for them 
than by seizing them from above after the manner of the true Hawks. 
No. 
Sex. 
Locality. 
Bate. 
Collector. 
477 
cf ad. 
Near Monnt Wliitnev, Cal. 
Sept. 18 
Oct. 7 
532 
cf ad. 
cf ad. 
.do. 
576 
Walker’s Basin... 
Oct. 16 
655 
d ad. 
.do. 
Nov. 5 
136. Archibuteo ferruginous, (Licht.).—Californian Squirrel Hawk. 
In my note-book I find reference made to some large Hawks which, in company with 
the Swainson’s, I saw in a Gopher village in the San Fernando Valley in July, and 
which I believed to be of this species. It does not appear, however, to be at all com¬ 
mon in Southern California in summer, but becomes numerous in fall, making its 
appearance either from the high mountains, or, as is more probable, from farther north. 
It is more active in its motions and more Falcon-like in its method of hunting than 
either of the preceding species. It is usually seen beating over the open country on 
vigorous wing, and keeping a few feet above the ground, ready on the instant to close 
with any unlucky mammal it may chance to surprise. As implied by its name, it is a 
determined enemy of the Ground Squirrels, and, with the other two species, must 
annually destroy an immense number of them. The A. sanctijohannis is, according to 
Dr. Cooper, a winter visitor to the State. I saw in possession of Mr. Gruber, of San 
Francisco, a fine specimen of this bird, representing the most extreme condition of 
melanism. It was shot, I believo, near San Francisco. 
137. Elanus Cucurus, (Vieillot).—Black-shouldered Kite. 
This species does not appear to occur in the southern parts of California, where none 
were met with by our parties. It is found about San Francisco in considerable num¬ 
bers, and is there a resident. 
138. Haliaetus leucocephalus, (Linn.).—White-headed Eagle. 
This Eagle is an abundant resident of California, particularly along the sea-coast. It 
is also not uncommon in the mountain districts. The islands in tlie Santa Barbara 
Channel are the resort of many pairs that remain during the year. The broken ledges 
on the faces of the cliffs, sometimes overhanging the ocean, afford favorite spots for 
their nests. They are said to annually destroy many of the lambs. I am informed by 
Lieutenant Carpenter that this Eagle at the mouth of the Columbia River is exceed- 
