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Show 264 portnnity should occur to snatch a supper. Elsewhere I have frequently seen them thus em ployed j 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. 740 Sex. d ad. Locality. Date. Jane - Collector. H. W. Henshaw. 135. Buteo torealU, ( Gmel.), var. oalurus, Casein.- Western Bed- 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 conveniences 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. montanms, 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 everywhere 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 company with the Swain son'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. 477 532 576 655 Sex. d ad. d ad. d ad. d ad. Locality. Near Mount Whitney, Cal do " Walker's Basin - -, T - do Date. Sept. 18 Oct. 7 Oct 16 Nov. 5 Collector. 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 iu July, and which I believed to be of this species. It does not appear, however, to be at all common 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. wmctijokannie 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 believe, 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 numbers, and is there a resident. 138. Haliaclu8 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 the 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- |
