108 



THE OOLOGIST 



Marsh Hawk, I soon entered a medium 

 sized grove of about sixty acres. As I 

 was wandering aimlessly about not 

 caring particularly where I went I soon 

 found myself confronted by a barbed- 

 wire fence, looking up suddenly I got a 

 faint glimpse of a dark object in the 

 tree tops not far away. Stepping over 

 the fence, I hurried rapidly on in that 

 direction ^until I could see the nest 

 plainly. At^tirst I thought it was an 

 old Crow's nest, but it looked suspic- 

 ious. All this time I was looking up, 

 but could see nothing on the nest in the 

 form of a bird. I'll just go round to 

 the other side I thought. There was 

 considerable undergrowth about the 

 tree on this side, so I made a small cir- 

 cuit and on coming up on the opposite 

 side I saw what appeared to be a gray 

 tail protruding over the nest and knew 

 instantly I had found something of 

 more interest than a Crow's nest. 

 Going up to the tree as there was no 

 brush on this side I rapped on the 

 trunk with a stick I had picked up for 

 that purpose immediately a Hawk of 

 some species rose ofif the nest and sailed 

 away. I being under the branches 

 could not see the bird very distinctly so 

 was unable to name it. 



Not knowing what species it was I re- 

 solved to await her return, so going a 

 little ways off I sat down on the ground. 

 I had not long to wait, however, before 

 she was circling over the tree-tops. 

 Her keen eyes must have observed me, 

 although I sat perfectly quiet, for she 

 did not alight on the nest, but came 

 very close. Being satisfied that the 

 bird was Cooper's Hawk. I arose and 

 went to the tree, as the nest was only 

 thirty feet from the ground I . was soon 

 looking in it. When I saw its four 

 white eggs with a faint tinge of blue 

 there was left no doubt as to the iden- 

 tity. 



Being in a very uncomfortable posi- 

 tion I soon descended bringing the four 

 freshly laid eggs with me. Following 



is a description of the nest as then tak- 

 en. Outside and general appearance 

 as a Crow's nest, situated in the main 

 fork of a black oak tree, thirty feet 

 from the ground. 



Composed of medium sized sticks 

 externally, over which were placed 

 finer ones, bark, grass, leaves, etc. 

 Two eggs have very faint markings of 

 light brown upon them, not hardly 

 noticeable. 



337 Red TAILED Hawk. Of this 

 species two sets were collected. The 

 first nest being placed in the topmost 

 branches of a burr oak tree, which 

 showed little or no attempt at conceal- 

 ment and was probable the accumula- 

 tion of many years. 



From March 22nd to the 30th the Red- 

 tails were seen repairing the old nest. 

 So on April 3rd a party consisting of a 

 neighbor, my two brothers and myself 

 set out after "big game" as one of the 

 party termed it. After a pleasant 

 walk in the fresh morning air we ar- 

 rived on the field of action. 



The nest was easily seen at a distance 

 of half a mile as the nest tree was one 

 of the outermost ones, but we did not 

 see any Hawks near. When we came 

 up to the nest we first realized its dizzy 

 height and the dangerous position it 

 was placed in, for the top of the tree 

 was greatly inclined. 



After gome discussion I was finally 

 elected to do the climbing and the con- 

 tents of the nest were to be mine for 

 the undertaking (that is if the nest con- 

 tained any eggs ) At first I hesitated 

 but as the morning was fair and there 

 was no wind I thought I might possibly 

 make it, so at length said, "I'll try." 

 The climb was long and tedious but 

 was accomplish nevertheless and nowt 

 There was my reward, two eggs! 



The nest was a huge structure and 

 very old without a doubt. Outside 

 measurements were 14 inches deep and 

 two feet four inches in diameter. la- 



