FERRUGINOUS ROUGHLEG 287 



being immense accumulations as large as very large eagle nests and taking up 

 almost the entire tree. The magpie {Pica pica liudsonia) frequently builds in 

 the same nest with the hawk, that of the magpie being usually underneath. In 

 one example that we found the hawk had three eggs and the magpie seven, on 

 April 28, 1928. The nests are built of sticks as large as the bird can carry, 

 bleached cattle bones, and rubbish of all kinds. The lining consists mostly of 

 sage bark, with practically always large dried chunks of horse or cow dung. 

 Where dry dung can not be obtained, large dead roots are used. This very pecul- 

 iar habit seems as typical with this hawk as cast snakeskin is with the crested 

 flycatcher (Myiarcluis crinitus). 



The actions of the sitting bird vary greatly with individuals. Usually they 

 will flush at some distance if they believe they are seen, but this is not always 

 the case. One very striking example was about 9 feet up in a small locust tree 

 on a deserted ranch and beside the road. We drove \ip to it, and the sitting bird 

 raised herself up and looked at us, then settled back on her nest again. One of 

 us then started to climb the tree, when the bird stood up again flapping her 

 wings, working her claws, and opening her beak in a most formidable manner. 

 She evidently had no intention of leaving, so we tried forcing her off with long 

 sticks, being careful that we did not injure her. This was diflScult because she 

 kept falling back onto the nest, but we finally managed to force her up into the 

 air so that a high wind that was blowing swept her away. We had only time 

 hurriedly to take the eggs when she was back again. Oddly enough there were 

 only two eggs, very small and considerably incubated. 



Eggs. — Tlie ferruginous ronghleg lays ordinarily three or four 

 eggs, sometimes only two, more rarely five, and as many as six have 

 been recorded. They are ovate or elliptical-ovate in shape, and the 

 shell is smooth or finely granulated. The ground color is white, 

 creamy white, or pale bluish white. They are usually very handsome 

 eggs, boldly marked with large blotches or spots of rich browns, from 

 "burnt umber" or "chocolate" to "amber brown" or "tawny" ; some are 

 marked with lighter browns, "clay color" or "cinnamon-buff", or w^ith 

 shades of "vinaceous fawn color" under the browns; there are often 

 underlying spots of "ecru-drab" or "Quaker drab." Some eggs are 

 more evenly and some very sparingly spotted with the same colors; 

 and some are nearly or quite immaculate. The measurements of 53 

 eggs average 61.2 by 48 millimeters; the eggs showing the four 

 extremes measure 67.5 by 49, G2.7 by 51.3, and 56 by 45.6 millimeters. 



Young. — Incubation is said to last for about 28 days and to be 

 shared by both sexes. Mr. Cameron (1914) says that the young re- 

 main in the nest until they are about two months old and fully 

 fledged. Regarding the first flight from the nest of two young birds, 

 he writes : 



They were noticed to be very much on the alert, and Mr. Felton, desiring to 

 obtain a photograph, crav/led cautiously from above to within five yards of 

 the nest. As he raised his Kodak both liawks took alarm, and boldly launched 

 themselves from the eyrie in the direction of the creek belov/. After holding 

 a straight course for about a quarter mile the fledglings seemed to lose heart; 

 they circled right and left, and, again meeting, returned together to the cliff. 



