182 



proach, uttering cries of distress, and seemingly to en 

 gage in mutual condolence over their misfortune. 



HOW THEY CATCH SQUIRRELS. 



During the breeding^ season they frequently hunt to- 

 gether for food for themselves and youug "and if, per- 

 chance, they spy a squirrel on a tree, one will drive it 

 while the other poises itself ready to seize it if it 

 dodges to the other side to evade the grasp of the first 

 liawk. From the two there is no escape. Grasping 

 it tirmly by the neck, the assailant practically demon- 

 strates the possibility of garroting its victim, when the 

 ill-fated squirrel is carried to the eyrie and torn to 

 I)ieces to satiate the cravings of their rapacious 

 young." — Wood. 



WILL T.\KE CHICKENS. 



Ked-tailed hawks, when mice or other food supplies 

 are not readily obtainable, unquestionably will catch 

 poultry, and they do not, at such times, hesitate to at- 

 tack full grown fowls. It may be that they prefer to 

 make warfare ou sick or weakly chickens, but, of this 

 I am not convinced, as I have known of a number of 

 instances where these hawks have attacked and killed 

 cliickcns in full vigor of life. Observations of this 

 bird, however, lead me to believe, that except in win 

 tcr when its preferred and natural bill of fare — mice, 

 shrews and insects — are hard to obtain, or, in the 

 breeding period, when its young requiie s<> hhkIi touii. 

 it is rather exceptional for the Ked-tailed to attack dn^ 

 mestic fowls. A good many rabbits and squirrels an' 

 eaten by the Ked-tail. yet the farmer should not com 

 plain as these inanimals ai'e no benefit to liim. 



