U. FAMILY FALCONID/E, (THE HAWK.) Among hawks, genus Falco, we have: Duck Hawk. Winter resident, very rare; carnivorous; feeds on ducks, pigeons, blackbirds, etc.—Pigeon hawk. Wandering, very rare; carnivorous ; feeds on pigeons and smaller birds, field mice, etc.—Sparrow hawk. Resident, common ; less so in winter; carnivorous. As its name implies, it feeds on sparrows and other small birds, field mice, shrews, and small reptiles.
Genus el star. Goshawk. Winter resident, not com mon; carnivorous; preys on partridges, birds, field mice, etc.
Genus Accipiter. Cooper's hawk. Winter resident, rare; carnivorous. Its principal food consists of birds and small quadrupeds; when hungry, will not refuse a chicken for its dessert.—Sharp-shinned hawk. Resident, or nearly so; never abundant; carnivorous; feeds on small birds mice, etc. The smaller members of this family mostli resort to the woods, fields, and meadows in quest of foo , and seldom visit the poultry yard, unless pressed by hun ger. The farmer can well afford then this small pittance for their service in destroying mice, shrews, moles, etc., in his fields.
Genus Buteo. Red-tailed hawk. Resident, common ,• carnivorous. The predatory habits of this owerful bird have rendered him the terror of the poultry yard. Partridges, larks, and other birds, rabbits, squirrels, mice, and even reptiles, form his less dainty fare. I most leave the farmer to balance the account as he best cm—Red-shouldered hawk. Winter resident, frequent in season: carnivorous; habits somewhat similar to the preceding species with which it is often confounded; but is muca less troublesome , the farmer.—Broad-winged hawk. Resident, and quite rare; carnivorous ; feeds on birds, mice, reptiles; rarely an chickens.
Genus Archibuteo. Rough-legged hawk. Winter resi dent. It is not common ; carnivorous; affects meadows and the marshy borders of streams, where it feeds on such birds, mice, and reptiles as are found in those places, The uumber of meadow mice which this species destroys, ought, one would think, to insure it the protection of every husbaudman.—Black hawk. Winter resident, rare; car
nivorous; habits similar to those of the last-named spe cies Audubon considers this the sums as the rough legged hawk in more mature plumage Geuus Circus. Marsh hawk. Wandering, mostly seen in winter; carnivorous; affects meadows and marshy grounds, hence its name; feeds on small birds, but more especially on mice and other small quadrupeds, and when in season, on frogs, snakes. etc.
Genus Aquita. Golden eagle. Wandering, but very aeldoin seen; carnivorous. With courage equal to his strength, he fearlessly pounces on a swan or a goose, a kid or a lamb, and, when instigated by extreme hunger, has been known to seize on little children and bear them off to his mountain aerie. Young fawns, raccoons, hares, wild turkeys, and other large birds constitute a portion of his bill of fare.
Genus Haliwiea. White-headed eagle. Wandering, not common: piscivorous The principal food of the bald eagle is fish, and this is mostly plundered from the fish hawk; sometimes preys on ducks and other water birds; when these fail, he will even feed on carrion, and, like his older brother, attack lambs, fawns, pigs, etc. Instances are related of his seizing small childreu and carrying them away to his nest.
Genus Pandion. Fishhawk. Wandering, freqnent alone the larger streams; piscivorous; affects our rivers and bays, and passes from one to another as the occur rence of ice, etc , may require. Feeds almost wholly on fish, which it catches with wonderful dexterity; too often, as has been noticed, to be robbed of its prize by the white-headed eagle.