84 THE HAWK.S AND OWLS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



thatoftUo Red-shouldered HaAvk. (Auk, vii, 1890, 56.) Mr. W. E. D. 

 Scott .secured a pair at Tarpon Springs, Fla., just as they were starting 

 t<» l)iiil<l a nest. (Auk, vi, 1881), 243.) 



There is very little on record regarding the food, habits or, for that 

 matter, tlic life; history in general of this Hawk, wliich so seldom crosses 

 our soutliern border. It is not improbable that it resembles tlie Broad- 

 winged ITawk in habits as well as in the character of its food, though 

 uidike that bird, it is stated to be wary and diflicult of approach. In 

 any event, its rarity within oui- territory i^recludes its having nuich 

 economic interest or importance. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Wing less than 13.50 inches (.342"""). Middle toe longer than bare 

 Itorlion of leg in front. Forehead, anterior spsicc in front of the eyes, 

 <-lieek,aMd lowei' jtarts, pure white; side of <'hest with iiatch of rufous 

 orcinnamon. Aphase ociMirs inwhi(;li the ])lumage is a uniform sooty- 

 brown or blnck. 



Length : 10 indies, (400"'"') ; wing, 10.50 to 13.10 inches (207 to 332'""'); 

 tail, 6 to 8 inches (152 to 203"'"'). 



MEXICAN BLACK HAWK. 



Urubitinga anthracina. 



The Mexican Black Hawk inhabits ti'opi<-al America in general, rang- 

 ing iKtrthward as far as cential Arizona (V^erde Valley) and southern 

 Texas. It is so limited in its distribution within our territory as to war- 

 rant brief mention only. 



The food of tliis Hawk consists jnostly of the lower forms of verte- 

 brate life and, rarely, of birds. Mr. (3. (3. Nutting states that it feeds 

 largely u])on re]>tiles. (Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. V, 1882, p. 404.) Dr. 

 Vj. a. Mearns, s|)eaking of it in Arizona says: " Occasionally one was 

 seen eating fish npon the sandy margin of the rivei-." (Auk, vol. ill, 

 1880, p. 72.) Mr. Itobert Ridgway mentions a specimen which was 

 shot while feeding on a curassow {Crax). (Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 

 VIII, 1885, p. 5S].) 



Mr. V. 1j. Siiiniclirast, speaking of tjicir food in southwestern Mexico, 

 says: "The kind of food is varied; being naturally voracious, they 

 desi»ise no living jncy, and T have taken our of their stomachs small 

 (piadrupeds, young birds, i-e]»tiles, crustac.ea, and insects. They ai'e 

 fond of tish, and on the borders of shallow brooks they easily catch 

 the smaller kinds. (BidletJn U. S. Nat. Mus. No. 4., 1870, ]>. 42.) 



Dr. E. A. Mearns states that it migrates from the vicinity of Camp 

 Verde in fall and does not appear again until si)ring. It breeds to the 

 northein limit of its range. The eggs, usually two in jiumber, are de- 

 posit(!d about the first (►f May, and by the middleof June*, the young- 

 are hah" grown. The nest is placed in some large cottonwood or other 



