260 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 



limits of the city of Ottawa. This was on 24th May, 1884. Since 

 then the city has extended over a mile to the south of this locality, 

 and night hawks nest on the roofs of the houses built on the same 

 spot. 



This is a hawk whose young are commonly met with near the 

 St. Lawrence in September and October. Only once have I met 

 with its nest there — 24th May, 1899. This nest was built against 

 the trunk of a maple and contained two fresh eggs. It is a late 

 breeder, seldom laying before the last week in May, though once 

 I found the eggs earlier. It is the commonest hawk in the county 

 of Renfrew, near the Ottawa river, and is also common in the county 

 of Lanark. Unlike the red-shouldered, it is partial to thick, swampy 

 woods near creeks, and builds its nest more often against the trunk 

 than among the limbs of a tree. I have seen five nests. Four of 

 these were in birch trees and one in a maple. The earliest date 

 for its eggs was 8th May, 1886, and the latest, 3rd June, 1888. The 

 average time is about 24th May. The favourite trees selected seem 

 to be black or yellow birch. {Rev. C. J. Young.) Common in Parry 

 Sound and Muskoka districts. A large number breed. Found a 

 nest at Emsdale, Parry Sound district, 27th May, 1897 ; it was appar- 

 ently an old nest and contained three eggs. It was built about 30 

 feet from the ground in a birch. (/. H. Fleming.) 



Very common in the woods around Muskoka lakes. Always 

 builds its nest in the large black birch trees. I have never seen 

 one in any other tree and I have taken many nests. The nest is 

 made of sticks lined with leaves and bark. The food of the young 

 appeared to be chiefly frogs. A person will scarcely ever miss 

 seeing one or more sitting upon a stub of a dead tree just above the 

 water in which frogs are plentiful in spring. They also catch mice 

 and a few young birds. On one occasion I saw one carrying a 

 snake more than two feet long. I think that the reason they pre- 

 fer the birch is on account of thick foliage and the forked nature of 

 the tree near the top, which makes a very suitable place to nest in. 

 I have always found the nests in thick woods, and as I have never 

 seen a nest anywhere except in Muskoka, they have always been 

 near water, as it would be hard to be otherwise. (Spreadborough.) 

 We found this bird nesting at Woodlands, Manitoba, June nth, 

 1894. The nest contained two eggs. (W. Raine.) 



