207 



another of three, at 'The Narrows," DelMwjirc river. 

 Month of incubation, April." Repoi'ls which I have 

 received from otiier naturalists and collectors, show 

 that the Duck Hawk lias been observed in other parts 

 of the State as a straggler in the spring and fall, or as 

 a rather rare and irregular winter visitor. I have 

 never found the nest of this bird. 



Dr. Coues stales that it "breeds as far south as Virginia 

 at least; eggs, 2-5, oftener 3-4, 2.10 to 2.35x1.60 to 1.75, averag- 

 ing about 2.25x1.65; white or whitish, spotted, blotched, 

 wreathed, clouded, etc.. with the reddish-browns, from choco- 

 late or even purplish to the ochres." — Key, N. A. Birds. 



KILLS DOMESTIC FOWLS. 



This hawk, like the Cooper's and Sharp-sliiuned spe 

 cies previously described, is detrimental, but fortii 

 natelj for the farmer and fruit grower the Duck Hawk 

 is a comparatively rare bird, and, except in winter, 

 is found usually about the larger rivers. However, 

 when a pair of these birds begin house-keeping on a 

 high, rocky ledge in the neighborhood of farm houses, 

 they frequently destroy a good many domestic fowls. 



For several years past a pair of these hawks have 

 nested in an inaccessible nook on a liigh rocky bliitl' 

 along the Susquehanna river across from Northumber- 

 land, Pa,, and several poultry raisers in that locality 

 have had a good many of their fowls killed by tliem. 



Two years ago, in mid-winter, a farmer living alouj; 

 the IJrandywine creek near West Chester, brought to 

 my office two of these hawks which he had killed one 

 (M-eniug at his carp jjond where, he stated, they went 

 to watch and catch his ducks and chickens. He said 

 that this pair of hawks had killed eiglit chickens and 

 Ihree ducks for him in alxiul a week, and thai they 

 had also rau^'ht sevi-r;il of his pii^eons. 



