262 BULLETII^ 16 7, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



faded before summer. A complete molt continues througli summer 

 and fall, and by January the adult plumage is practically complete. 

 Adults apparently have a complete annual molt, which is either 

 much prolonged or very irregular; adults have been seen in com- 

 plete molt in October, in body molt in February, and molting wings 

 and tail in May. 



Food.—Proi. F. E. Sumichrast (Lawrence, 1876) says: "The kind 

 of food is varied; being naturally voracious, they desj^ise no living 

 ])rey, and I have taken out of their stomachs small quadrupeds, young 

 birds, reptiles, Crustacea, and insects. They are fond of fish, and on 

 the borders of shallow brooks they easily catch the smaller kinds." 



Mr. Thomas (1908) sa5^s that in the sand dunes and savannas of 

 British Honduras "the ground is honey-combed by thousands of 

 holes of various sizes, the abode of countless numbers of huge land 

 crabs." He continues : 



In the eveninjr, as soon as the sun is down, they come out from their holes 

 by thousands, hurrying here and there and always figliting, brandishing their 

 big claws in the air like a pigmy wielding a huge scoop-shovel. 



It is then that the hawks are seen busily engaged in their pursuit of food, 

 as these crabs form almost their sole diet in this particular locality. They 

 always catch and kill more than they can eat at the time in order that they 

 may not be wanting on the morrow when all the crabs have gone deep in their 

 holes to escape the heat of the day. Occasionally I noticed a hawk flying to 

 the nest with a large lizard or snake, but more frequently they were satisfied 

 with the crabs obtained the night before. In not one instance did I see them 

 in pursuit of any birds, nor do their nests with young show any signs that 

 birds are ever taken as prey. 



Mr. Fowler (1903) saw one capture a green-tailed towhee, carry it 

 to the top of a stmnp, and proceed to tear out its feathers. Dr. A. K. 

 Fisher (1893) reports that of six stomachs examined three contained 

 frogs, two contained fishes, and one a snake. 



Behavior. — Mr. Thomas (1908) writes: 



In fliglit they excel every one of the hawks, kites, or falcons except possibly 

 the Swallow-tailed Kite. Their flight is really marvelous, excelling in some 

 particulars even the far-famed Frigate or i\lan-o-war Bird. The greater part 

 of the year they are rather dull and sluggish but when nesting time comes 

 they are ever on the wing until the young are able to take care of themselves. 



It is very interesting to see them obtain material for the nest. They circle 

 high in the air sending out their queer whistling cry, when suddenly one of 

 them folds its wings very close to its side and plunges towards the ground 

 with the speed of an arrow. One almost holds his breath expecting to see the 

 great bird strike the earth with such force that he will be transformed into a 

 lifeless mass of bone and feather. But suddenly just before he reaches the 

 dead tree, thru whose branches you expect to see him crashing, he throws 

 open his wings to their full extent, his tail spreads and flattens against the 

 downward rush and the great talons hang loosely down. Then gliding swiftly 

 over the topmost branch, the swinging and apparently useless feet suddenly 

 stiffen, a faint crack is heard and he slowly fans his way over to the nearby 



