FALCONS, HAWKS. traumas, are. ‘ 193

FAMILY FALCONIDAE. FALCONS, HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC.

The three hundred and fifty species included in this family are distributed throughout the world. One tenth of the number are found in North America. During the migratory s‘asons they may some- times be seen traveling in scattered flocks, which may take hours to pass a given point. At other times of the year, with few exceptions, they are solitary birds. having no intercourse with their kind. During the breeding season many species have definitely bounded haunts, upon which intrusion by individuals of the same species is not permitted. With much regularity they return to the same locality and even the same nest year after year. and some species are known to mate for life. Their days are an uneeasing vigil. At all times they are on the alert for food. This consists to a large extent. of small mammals and in- sects. birds and poultry forming a comparatively insignificant part of the diet of most species. Hawks are thus of great value to the agri- culturist as the natural check upon the increase of the myriads of small rodents so destructive to crops.

The cries of Hawks are generally loud. startling. and characteristic of their fierce natures. They strike their prey with their feet, and use the bill to tear it into fragments.

Hawks1 nests are generally bulky affairs. composed of coarse twigs and sticks. The presence of downy feathers gives evidence that they are or have been recently occupied.

KEY TO THE SPECIES. l. Wing over 1000. A. Upper lialt‘of tarsus feathered. It. Whole head and neck white . . . . . . 352. BALD EAGLE (Ad). 1). Head and neck brown or bro\\'nish. 0'. Bill mostly yellow (Greenland) . . 351. GRAY SEA EAGLE (Ad). 11’. Bill hlm-k orblackish . . . . . . . . 35:5. BALD EAGLE(III‘1.). 13. Whole tarsus feathered . . . . . . . . . . 349. GOLDEN EAGLE. II. Wing under 19"“). 1. Feathers of under parts more or less streaked and spotted, without cross-bars. .1. Outer 1n'imai'_\' with numerous black or blackish bars. a. Wine under lO'W. (11. Back bright ruf'ous. with or without black bars. :10“. AM. Smnnow HAWK. ((7. Back bluish slate—color. . . . . . 357. l’loiaoN ll.\\\‘1;(Ad.). 115. Back t'uscous. second primary longest. 357. 1’“;on HAWK (inr). (14. Back fuseous. t'ourth primary longest, tail—feathers of nearly equal length: wing under 0‘00. . . . . 332. SiiARr-snixxEn HAWK. l4