THE HAWKS, EAGLES, KITES, AND VULTURES. 209 



Our knowledge of the feeding habits of this species is 

 unusually complete. Besides the isolated observations of a 

 large number of competent observers, we have the results of 

 the special studies of Dr. B. H. Warren, in which the con- 

 tents of one hundred and seventy-three stomachs were ex- 

 amined, and Dr. A. K. Fisher, who studied five hundred and 

 sixty-two stomachs from twenty-six widely separated States, 

 Territories, and Prov- 

 inces, r a n g.i n g from 

 Ontario to Florida and 

 Massachusetts to Califor- 

 nia. Dr. Warren found 

 mice in one hundred and 

 thirty-one of the one 

 hundred and seventy- 

 three stomachs he ex- 

 amined, while six of 

 them contained rabbits ; 

 three, red squirrels ; 

 two, skunks; and eigh- 

 teen, small birds. Poul- 

 try was found in four 

 specimens, insects in 

 three, snakes in three, 

 and carrion in four. 

 Thus, less than ten per 

 cent, of the birds had 

 eaten poultry. Dr. 

 Fisher's results as to poultry were similar ; fifty-four out of 

 the five hundred and sixty-two specimens contained poultry 

 or game-birds. Various other birds, as the robin, mourning- 

 dove, crow, shore-lark, king-rail, meadow-lark, oriole, blue- 

 bird, grackle, screech-owl, and several species of sparrows, 

 were found in fifty-one stomachs. Mice — including the house, 

 meadow, pine, white-footed, harvest, and Cooper's mice — had 



14 



RED-TAILED HAWKS. 

 (After Biolugical Survey.) 



