Red- Shouldered Bawk. 263 



Concerning the size of the nest complement of this 

 species, "J. M. W.," the best authority in America on the 

 breeding habits of the native buzzard-hawks, avers that 

 young females produce sets of three and occasionally four 

 eggs, while the older females deposit only two eggs. In 

 length the eggs vary from 2.28 to 1.92 inches, and in width 

 from 1.80 to 1.29 inches. The eggs vary in color from a 

 pure white ground to bluish-white, marked in almost 

 endless variations with umber, drab, chestnut, russet, and 

 fawn, in clouds, blotches, and streaks, and even small 

 spots. Unmarked eggs of this species are rarer than such 

 eggs of the red-tailed hawk. 



The lover of nature who seeks his mistress in her wood- 

 land walks can witness to the dignified deportment and 

 good-natured superiority of these forest nobles. As we 

 enter their manorial groves they shrill their bugle calls, 

 and may be seen flapping slowly and heavily over the 

 tops of the forest trees. The first movements of their 

 flight are labored. They flap along for a short distance, 

 and then veering sharply in a small arc, sail in an oblique, 

 upward line, from the impetus of the four or five rapid 

 strokes of their strong pinions. Screaming their notes 

 of anger or exultation, they again flap and sail as before, 

 mounting in a series of oblique arcs, seeming to acquire 

 more ease and buoyancy as they ascend, until they are 

 borne on unmoving wings along the circumferences of still 

 expanding circles. There they float in the tranquil heights, 

 drifting farther and farther from the neighborhood. Who 

 that loves freedom and respects unassuming power can 

 desist from gazing after them with interest and even 

 admiration? Truly they are representatives of the feudal 

 times when might, not right, held sway. Or shall we 

 say that it is might with right that characterizes their 

 woodland rule? 



