104 



THE OOLOGIST. 



set, but in about one case out of ten 

 there are found three eggs, but never 

 more. In one case in about every 

 thirty, there is a single incubated egg, 

 showing that to be the limit of the 

 clutch, but it is fair to infer that this 

 single sgg is the result of a second at- 

 tempt and after the tirst nest was rob- 

 bed. 



The eggs average considerable larger 

 than the next species, and can general- 

 ly be distinguished from them, both in 

 size and by coloration, but both of 

 these means of identity often fail, and 

 I have repeatedly seen eggs of the lled- 

 shoiddered Hawk as large or slightly 

 larger than small eggs of this Hawk. 



Hundreds of sets of eggs of this 

 species and the following, have been 

 taken by egg collectors in this, and ad- 

 joining counties, within the last fifteen 

 years. There are many eyries within 

 three miles of the city of Kalamazoo 

 of 20,000 inhabitants, which are still 

 flourishing as egg producers, which 

 have been known and robbed off and 

 on for years. I feel safe in saying that 

 there are live hundred BiUeos' eggs no\\ 

 contained in collections in this county. 

 Now adding the hundreds which have 

 exchanged, sold and destroyed, and 

 we may possibly realize the extent of 

 the iui'oad made on the Hawks in this 

 one neighborhood. Still nddiug to this 

 the large number of young birds which 

 are annually thrown from the nest, to- 

 gether with the list of adult birds which 

 are shot by sportsmen and everyone 

 else who can take aim and pull a trig- 

 ger, and it seems a wonder that there 

 are any Hawks left in this quarter. 



liCt me say a few more words while 

 on the sul)jcct of Hawks. Last fall we 

 had a side-hunt for game destroyers, 

 with a regular schedule of counts per 

 cai)ita for our annual game supper. I 

 was made judge, and in my capacity, 

 inspecteil a horde of so so-called vir- 

 mints, embracing mammals, birds and 

 reptiles. Hawks furnished the highest 



score of all, and in the large number nf 

 scalps examined I identified seven 

 species as follows: Red-shouldered; 

 Red-tailed; Cooper's; Sparrow; Marsh; 

 Sharp-shinned and Broad- winged. It 

 hardly seems possible that this pestered 

 family of birds could: survive such per- 

 secutions, but therejs, to me, no ap- 

 parent difference in their numbers, and 

 this spring it will be as easy as ever to 

 Hnd he nests and hear the scr-e-e-e of 

 the Red-tail, the ka-whee of the Red- 

 shouldered and the chatter of the Coop- 

 er's. 



Just how. early theRed-tail sometimes 

 lays its eggs, it is as yet undecided, but I 

 have known of nests robbed the tirst 

 week in March which contained incubat- 

 ed eggs. About March twentj'-fifth is 

 the best time for collecting, but one can- 

 not begin too early to locate the nests 

 and watch the birds. I have seen nests 

 robbed as late as May twentieth but 

 these rape instances only occur when 

 the early nesting has been interrupted. 

 That this is the case, is well shown by 

 the fact that late Ma.v nests nearly al- 

 ways contain a single egg. 



The tirst set of Hawks' eggs that I 

 secured were of this species and I shall 

 never forget how proud I was of my 

 prowess in the undertaking That was 

 long before climbing-irons were adopt- 

 ed in this neighborhood, and the under- 

 taking was in no manner a simple 

 matter. The day happened to be Sun- 

 day, though I did not usually collect on 

 that da3'. In order to save m}^ Sunday 

 breeches, and a good scolding, I divest- 

 ed myself of my outer garments and 

 shinned np that huge and lofty black 

 oak in ray underclothes. The act was 

 a success in cne way — that is I secured 

 the eggs, but my scanty raiment was 

 more scanty as a result of the rise and 

 slide-down on that cruelly rough bark. 

 Many a flake of skin was lost in the 

 effort, whilst I shivered in the cold 

 April wind. But never mind — I suc- 

 ceeded. 'Twas long ago but I have the 

 eggs yet. 



