NESTS AND EGGS OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 107 



from Fort Brown. The nests were not more than eight feet from the 

 ground, and were good-sized platforms of twigs, with scarcely any lining. 

 While examining these nests, the parents sailed in circles overhead, con- 

 stantly uttering a cry resembling the bleating of a goat. Each nest 

 contained one egg. The first was fresh; size 2.35 by 1.91 ; dirty-white, 

 with a few reddish blotches at the smaller end. The second, partly incu- 

 bated, was like the first, but the blotches were rather sparsely distributed 

 over the entire egg ; size 2.35 by 1.85. Mr. Norris, in the "Ornitholo- 

 gist and Oologist" for January, 1886, mentions a nest which was taken 

 near Corpus Christi, Texas, May 2, 1884, placed on the top of a chap- 

 arral bush, only seven feet from the ground. It contained two eggs; 

 these measure 2.30 by 1.80, 2.19 by 1.80. 



442. Swainson's Hawk — buteo swainsoni. Greenish-white or color- 

 less, sometimes stained with rusty-brown ; size about 2.25 by 1.75; one. 

 two, or three in number. In many places of the West this is the commonest 

 and most characteristic of the large hawks. The nest is built almost any- 

 where; on the ground, the ledges of rocky cliffs, on bushes, and in trees. 

 It is constructed of sticks, roots, and coarse grass, lined with leaves and 

 finer grasses. 



Hab. Western North Anierica, from the Mississippi Valley to the Pacific; occasionally eastward through 

 northern States to Canada and New England. 



443. Broad-winged Hawk — buteo pennsylvanicus. Grayish or dirty- 

 white, more or less thickly spotted and blotched with light umber, red- 

 dish, yellowish and purplish-brown, with a dull shading approaching 

 black; three to five eggs are laid, measuring from 2. to 2.15 long by 1.70 

 to 1.72 broad. This is a common Hawk in temperate eastern North 

 America. The nest is built in trees at varying distances from the ground, 

 composed of sticks, weeds and grasses. A fully identified nest with eggs 

 has been taken at Yellow Springs, Ohio, by W. M. Wilson. This was 

 placed in the fork of a moderately high tree. 



Hab. Temperate Eastern North America. 



447. American Rough-legged Hawk — archibuteo lagopus sancti- 

 jOHANNis. Yellowish or dingy-white, with faint markings and blotches of 

 a purplish-brown, over these are diffused confluent blotches of russet- 

 brown; three to five in number; size from 2.10 to 2.25 long by 1.75 to 

 1.80 broad. The "Black Hawk" breeds from New England northward, 

 placing the nest in large trees, frequently on a ledge of rocks. It is a 

 bulky structure, composed of sticks, grasses, weeds, and various other 

 materials which are soft and easily matted together. The bird is found in 

 plumage that varies exceedingly. In general, the whole plumage is dark 



