,S92.] Allen on the Breeding Habits of the Fish Hawk. 9 I y 



Out on the sandy plain to the south of the woods, and south- 

 east of the lighthouse, were one hundred or more nests built on 

 the ground. Some were on the tops of the sand hills at the water's 

 edge, others in the valleys or on the ridges. Those on the low 

 ground were usually placed very close to some stake, a dead tree 

 or stump, or even piece of timber from an old wreck. Some of 

 the nests in the valleys were mere depressions in the sand, -like a 

 Gull's nest, near a post or stake, with a few feathers or straws in 

 or near it, and a few sticks and bones scattered around. These 

 were new nests. Other old nests on the ground were four to five 

 feet high, having been added to yearly by tlie birds, and by loose 

 sand blown into them by storms. In some instances the nests had 

 caught the sand year after year, while the sticks, etc., had rotted 

 until there remained apparently simply a cone some three or 

 four feet high, level at the top, which had a breadth of two and a 

 half to three feet, with a depresssion in the center, in w^hich some 

 grass was growing, while sticks, bones, etc., were scattered around 

 its edges. Some of the newer nests were found only by the bii'd 

 flying up from them as 1 approached, the nest being merely a 

 small hollow in the sand. 



On the north shore, where the beach is strewn witli large 

 boulders, nearly every large rock — even some that were far out 

 in the water — was occupied with a small nest. The waves 

 breaking over these rocks during heavy storms, the nests were fre- 

 quently washed away, thus preventing any large accumulation of 

 materials. In photographing some of these nests I secured a view 

 of one with the bird flying over it, and another view of the same 

 nest when the bird had just alighted on it. This was a large 

 nest, situated on a boulder nearly forty feet high. In both in- 

 stances the bird came out well in the photograph. It was almost 

 impossible to reach this nest, but I finally succeeded in getting to 

 it, the Hawks meanwhile darting within three or four feet of my 

 head, thrusting out their claws towards me in a threatening 

 manner as they faii-ly brushed me with their wings. The eggs 

 were found to be protected in a singular manner, being covered 

 and nearly concealed by a Crow's wing, the owner of which had 

 not been killed over forty-eight hours. This nest was out of the 

 reach of the waves and very bulky, with a deep depression in the 

 center. It was comparatively safe from attack from below, but 

 exposed from above. I have no evidence that the Hawks had 



