ANDERvSON — THE BIRDS Ol" IOWA. 247 



or first of May. The nest is a bulky mass of sticks and twigs, 

 placed near the top of a large tree, and is frequently u.sed year 

 after 3-ear. 



"Of 562 stomachs examined, 54 contained poultry or game 

 birds; 51, other birds; 278, mice; 131, other mammals; 37, batra- 

 chians or reptiles; 47, insects; 8, crawfish; i, centipede; i3,ofTal; 

 and 89 were empty." (Fisher). Contrary to the popular belief, 

 the Red-tail very seldom \-isits poultry-yards, and its food-habits 

 should cause it to be protected by the agriculturist rather than 

 persecuted. 



I examined a specimen in the collection of Dr. B. H. Bailey, 

 taken at Clear Lake, Iowa, in July, 1S92, which was changing 

 from juvenile to the adult plumage. Most of the tail feathers 

 were of the grayi.sh barred type, but some were of the red adult 

 phase. One red tail-feather was only half grown out. W. G. 

 Savage reports that an apparently snow-white Red-tail was .seen 

 near HilLsboro (O.sprey, i, 10, 136). The Red-tail .shows great 

 variability in the shades of its plumage, hardl}- two .specimens 

 being found exactly alike. 



143- (337^)- Biitco borcalis kridrri Hoopes. Krider Hawk. 



The Krider Hawk is a paler phase of the Red-tailed Hawk; 

 chiefly inhabiting the Great Plains, but occurring quite commonly 

 in Iowa. It is similar to ■/). borealis but has much more white in 

 the plumage, under parts only lightly streaked and the tail pale 

 rufous, usually without a subterminal black band. This variety 

 was described by Bernard A. Hoopes from specimens collected in 

 Winnebago county, Iowa, September, 1872, by John Krider 

 (Proc. Phila. Acad., 1873, p. 238, pi. 5; Forest and Stream, i, 10, 

 1873, 150). Krider says (Forty Years' Notes, 1879, 7): "This 

 bird I have found in Winnebago count}', Iowa, in 1870. I first 

 observed it flying at a distance, and at first took it for an albino, 

 but seeing several of them in company together, was very anxious 

 to secure one. ... I was aljle to get one that was .shot b}* Mr. 

 Hill, a farmer in the county. . . The second bird was watching 

 a flock of prairie chickens. The third .specimen I obtained in 

 1873, in the same county, and in 1874 I found in the same place 

 quite a number, but could not get near them. . . . The first two 

 specimens are in the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadel- 



