189 



KUUU UF Tlll'J I'.lin.Mj w I.Ni. 



Ciiirfiil invcsligalions in hvAU lield and laburatory 

 deiiK.iisliale conclusively that this liawk docs not dis- 

 turb the farmers' poultry and that it randy attacks 

 small wild birds. Its dietary is made up principally 

 of insects (different kinds of ,i;;rasshoppers, crickets, 

 locusts, beedes and iaivar) llie smaller species of 

 mammals, reptiles, and bal i:i(diians. Occasionally, 

 when olhi'r food su[)idics are nol readily obtainable, 

 this hawk will catch youns or disabled l)irds. Toads, 

 frogs and snakes are eagerly hnnled and ealen l)y Ihis 

 species, deferring to its fondness for toads, frogs, 

 snakes and injurious larvae (grubs), Di'. .\. K. Fisher 

 says : 



"In spring, when toads tri-qiiriit ponils lu spawn, it devours 

 large numbers oC them, and later in the season it is not an 

 uncommon occurrence to see an Individual with a frop or 

 snal<e danglinp from its talons," Continuing-, the same 

 writer adds: "The only act of the Broad-winged Hawk which 

 seems Injurious to agriculture is the killing oi: toads and 

 small snaks; the former of which are exclusively Insect 

 eaters, the latter very largely so. In one respect Its enormous 

 value ranks above all other birds, and that Is in the destruc- 

 tion of immense numbers of in.jurlous larvae of large moths, 

 which mi^sl birds are either unable or disinrlined to ciipe 

 with," 



In Iwelve si)ecimi'ns cxaniiin'd by niysidf, four re- 

 vealed mice; (hrec, small birds; rmir, frogs; one, killed 

 the 22d of -May. 1SSL>, was gorged wilii crawfish, with 

 which were I races of coleopterous insects (beetles). 



WHAT othI':r wuitkks say ahoiit its food. 



Audubon savs: "In the str.niach of this bird I found wood 

 frogs, portions of small snakes, together with feathers, and 

 the hair of several small specimens of quadrupeds." (Ornlth. 

 Biography. Vol. I, p. 463,) 



Mr. J. \V. Preston says: "Their food consists of small 

 squirrels, frogs, and, In fact, any small quarry easily cap- 

 tured. Never have I known them to molest the poultry," 

 (Ornlth. and Oologist, Vol. XHI, 188, p. 20.) 



Mr. .1. n. Well.';, spt-akinK of the bird in tin- West Indies, 

 says: "Numerous; feeds on lizards, i-ats, snakes, young 



