366 W I N T E R H A W K.
time briefly described the habits of the latter with accuracy, I cannot
think that the bird figured by him was of that species. My excellent
friend CHARLES LUCIAN BONAPARTE, has probably been led by Mr WILSON'S
error to consider the Winter Hawk and the Red-shouldered Hawk
as identical. I have killed many individuals of both species, and knowing
as I do that the Red-shouldered Hawk is a constant resident in the
Southern States, where I have often destroyed its nest and young, and
where very few Winter Hawks are ever seen, even during winter, I cannot
hesitate a moment to pronounce them different and distinct species.
The Winter Hawk generally rests at night on the ground, amongst
the tall sedges of the marshes. From such places I have on several occasions
started it, whilst in search of Ducks, and have shot it as it flew low
over the ground, attempting to escape unobserved. . I have never seen
this Hawk in pursuit of any other birds than those of its own species,
each individual chasing the others from the district which it has selected
for itself.
The cry of the Winter Hawk is clear and prolonged, and resembles
the syllables kay-o. After uttering these notes, it generally alights.
Towards spring they associate in small parties of four or five, to perform
their migrations. In this respect the species resembles most of the Marsh
Hawks or Hen-harriers.
FAECO HYEMAEIS, Gmel. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 274-—Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. i. p. 34.—
Ch. Bonaparte, Synops. of Birds of the United States, p. 33.
"WINTER, FALCON, FALCO HYEMALIS, Wits. Amer. Ornith. vol. iv. p. 73. PL 35.
Adult Male. Plate LXXI.
Bill short, as broad as deep at the base, the sides convex, the dorsal
outline convex from the base; upper mandible cerate, the edges blunt,
slightly inflected, with an obtuse lobe towards the curvature, the tip trigonal,
deflected, very acute; lower mandible involute at the edges, a
little truncate at the end. Nostrils round, lateral, with a soft papilla in
the centre. Head rather large, neck and body rather slender. Tarsus
rather slender, anteriorly scutellate; toes scutellate above, scaly on the
sides, scabrous and tuberculate beneath; middle and outer toe connected at
the base by a small membrane; claws roundish, curved, slender, very acute.
Plumage compact, imbricated; feathers of the head and neck narrow
towards the tips, of the back broad and rounded ; tibial feathers elongated
behind. Wings long, third and fourth primaries longest, the first
short.
Bill light blue, darker at the tip; cere, basal margin of the bill,
edges of the eyelids, and the feet, yellow, tinged with green. Iris yellow.
Claws black. Head, neck and back, pale brownish-red, longitudinally
spotted with dark-brown, the sides and fore-part of the head greyishwhite.
Upper tail-coverts bluish-grey at the margins. Tail dull brown,
banded with brownish-white, and tipped with white. Lesser wing-coverts
brownish-red, spotted with dark brown; larger coverts and secondary
quills umber, banded with brownish-white; primary quills light yellowishred
at the base, dull brown towards the end, barred with dark brown.
Lower part of the neck, the sides and under wing-coverts, light brownishred,
the former longitudinally lined with brown. Breast greyish-white,
sparsely marked with guttiform spots, abdomen white. Tibial feathers
yellowish-white, marked with small roundish spots.
Length 22 inches ; bill along the back 1 ^ ; tarsus '6.
Compared with the adult male of the Red-shouldered Hawk, the
present bird is much larger, and differs greatly in colouring; but the
differences will be best understood by referring to the figures.
THE BULL-FROG, RANA TAURINA, CUV.
The body olive-green, clouded with black ; a yellow line along the
back. Length ten or twelve inches. This Frog is found in all parts
of the United States, but is more abundant in the Southern Districts.
Its voice is louder than that of any other species, and may be
distinctly heard at the distance of forty or fifty yards. It is particularly
fond of such small pure streams of water as are thickly shaded by overhanging
bushes. It sits for hours during the middle of the day, basking
in the sun, near the margin of the water, to which it betakes itself by a
great leap at the least appearance of danger, divirg at once to the bottom,
or swimming to the opposite side. In the Southern States, it is heard at
all seasons, but principally during the spring and summer months. Its
flesh is tender, white, and affords excellent eating. The hind legs, however,
are the only parts used as food. They make excellent bait for the
larger cat-fish. Some bull-frogs weigh as much as half a pound. I have
generally used the gun for procuring them, shooting with very small shot.