. The American natural history; a foundation of useful knowledge of the higher animals of North America. Natural history. 230 OEDERS OF BIEDS—BIRDS OP PREY The Red-Shouldered Hawk' has not only "red" shoulders, but also a red head, neck, back and breast. But there are many shades of red, and the so-called red on this bird is as widely different from the red of a cardinal as blue is from green. The so-called "red" on this Hawk is really a rusty brown; and by the great amount of it, the small, round head of the bird, and its black tail crossed by about six bands of white, thi
. The American natural history; a foundation of useful knowledge of the higher animals of North America. Natural history. 230 OEDERS OF BIEDS—BIRDS OP PREY The Red-Shouldered Hawk' has not only "red" shoulders, but also a red head, neck, back and breast. But there are many shades of red, and the so-called red on this bird is as widely different from the red of a cardinal as blue is from green. The so-called "red" on this Hawk is really a rusty brown; and by the great amount of it, the small, round head of the bird, and its black tail crossed by about six bands of white, this species may easily be distinguished from the ^' SHARP-SHINNED HAWK. This Hawk is to be counted with the farmer's best friends. Mr. J. Alden Loring knew a pair which for two years nested within fifty rods of a poultry-farm on which were about 800 young chickens and 400 ducks, but never attempted to catch one. Mice constitute two-thirds of its food, but it is very fond of frogs and toads. In the 220 specimens which he examined. Dr. Fisher found the remains of creatures representing eleven classes of life. The food exhibit was made up as follows: .3 stomachs contained do- mestic fowls; 12, other birds; 102, mice; 40, other small mammals (16 species in all); 20, reptiles; .3, fish; 39, amphibians (frogs and toads); ' Bu'te-o lin-e-a'lus. Average length of male, 18 inches; female, 20 inches. 92, insects; 16, spiders; 7, crawfish, and 1, earth- worms. The service rendered by the Red-Shouldered Hawk consists chiefly in the destruction of mice and grasshoppers; and birds of all kinds are touched very lightly. This species inhabits eastern North America from Nova Scotia and Canada to the Gulf, and westward to the Plains. The Pacific coast contains a variety known as the Red-Bellied Hawk, which is quite as honest about poultry as the eastern species. The Sharp-Shinned Hawk- is a swift flyer, a keen hunter, and a great murderer of small birds. Like all the hawks, its upper
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