RED-SHOULDERED HAWK. 65 



far as parallel 43° at that season. Accordiug to Mr. Mcllwraith it is not 

 fouud in Ontario in winter. It breeds tlirougliout tbe entire range. From 

 llfew England southward it is tbe most abundant breeder of any of tbe 

 rapacious birds, and in Connecticut and tbe soutbein portions of IS'ew York 

 it is safe to say that its nests outnumber those of all the other birds of 

 prey combined. TTsually by the middle of March it begins to build its 

 nest, there being verylittle ditference in the time of commencing between 

 New England and Texas, though Maynard tells us that in Florida it has 

 eggs in February. It breeds a trifle later than the Eed-tail, so full com- 

 plements of eggs are found usually from the middle of April to the first 

 of May. Most collectors give three eggs as the average number for a 

 set, though the writer, from his somewhat limited observations in south- 

 ern New York, does not remember ever finding less than four, and five 

 was not an uncommon number. Dr. William Wood mentions a set con- 

 taining six. Incubation, as with most of the other Hawks, occupies less 

 than twenty-eight days. 



Tlie nest closely resembles that of the crow, exce]it that it is larger 

 and lacks the compact and neat appearance common to the nest of the 

 latter l)ird. It is composed of coarse sticks loosely placed together 

 with finer ones toward the central cavity, which is lined with the bark 

 of the grape vine and other fibers, or, in some cases, with pieces of tlie 

 rough outer bark of the oak and hickory, and not uiiconunonly, as with 

 many of the other birds of prey, green twigs witli the leaves attached 

 are used. Bottom lands grown up with large deciduous trees, or the 

 neighboring hillsides, are the favorite nesting sites of this bird. The 

 nest is placed in one of the larger trees, 40 to 80 feet from the ground, 

 and usually in the fork where the main branches diverge from the 

 trunk. A pair will inhabit the same locality for years, and often occupy 

 a nest for several seasons. The male assists in building and incubating 

 as well as in feeding the young, and, in cases where the female is killed, 

 will rear the brood alone. It is stated that this s])ecies remains mated 

 through life, and that even during the winter months mates api)ear very 

 much attached to each other, differing in this respect from the Eed-tail. 



Except during the l)reeding season, when it is confined mostly to the 

 woods, the Red-shouldered Hawk frequents the low lands bordering 

 streams and marshes, and in the winter mouths one or more are likely 

 to be found where open siirings exist, watching for frogs, their favorite 

 food. 



Aj)parently it is less shy than the lied- tail; nevertheless, under ordi- 

 nary circumstances it Avill not allow a man on foot to apj)roach within 

 gun range. Like other Hawks, it shows no fear for one on horseback 

 or in a wagon, and in this way can be easily aj^proached. 



This Hawk, like most other birds of prey, makes a very interesting 



]»et, and on account of its varied food is easy to keep. The writer once 



reared, and kept for a year or more, one wliich was taken from a nest 



when only a few days old. It finally had to be killed because of its 



7626— No. 3 5 



