BIRDS OF PREY 149 



her claws, and carried him to the nest. It was impos- 

 sible to see whether she was holding him between them 

 or grasping liim by them. Five days later the nest was 

 deserted and the young hawks were nowhere to be 

 found. The adults still appeared in the vicinity, but the 

 young were safely hidden from prying eyes in the heavy 

 foliage. 



339b. RED-BELLIED UAV^^K.—Butco Imeatus elegans. 



Family : The Falcons, Hawks, Eagles, etc. 



Length: Male 17.00-19.00; female 18.50-21.00. 



Adults: Upper parts dark brown, streaked with buffy or white ; shoulders 

 bright red-brown ; under parts chestnut, barred with white on belly 

 and sides ; wings anil tail barred with white. 



Young : Under parts dusky ; wing-ipiills spotted with buffy. 



Downy Young: Dull grayish white. 



Geographical Distribution : Pacific coast of the United States, south to 

 Mexico, east to Texas. 



Breeding Range : In California, chiefly in the interior valleys from lati- 

 tude 33° to 41°. 



Nest : Of twigs ; lined with vegetable fibre, feathers, and leaves ; on 

 limbs of trees, usually in the neighborhood of water. 



Eggs .■ 2 to 5 ; grayish white, marked with brown and lilac. Size 

 2.40 X 1.77. 



This is the Western race of the red-shouldered hawk. 

 It is one that sliouhl receive all protection from the law. 

 Mr. Lyman Beldhigs records a pair that for three sea- 

 sons nested near a poultry yard, and wlio.se post mortem 

 proved their food to liave been exclusively lizards, tree- 

 frogs, and insects. Mr.s. Bailey says that their food is 

 '' sometimes small birds," but this is doubtless in ti'celess 

 regions, where tlieir favorite food is less easily obtained. 

 In most parts of Califoniia where they breed, the records 



