V ?s' XI ] Kennard, Habits of the Red-shouldered Hawk. 207 



feathers around it, but I was fortunately prevented by the timely 

 finding of the real nest in a pine tree near by, as told above. 



In 1892 this pair built in the same slender oak from which I 

 had knocked their nest in 1S89, and in identically the same 

 crotch. Somebody, however, had robbed it before I found it. 

 Still these birds were not discouraged, for on June 22 of the 

 same year Mr. Francis took three fresh eggs from a nest which I 

 feel sure belonged to this pair, built about a half a mile oft* on the 

 other side of a swamp. 



On June 10, 1893, after searching for the nest of this pair 

 intermittently, though carefully, for two months, I finally located 

 them about 50 feet up in an enormous pine, about a half a mile 

 from their usual location. I had always wondered why these 

 Hawks did not build in this pine, or in one of the group to which 

 it belonged, for the}' are all nearly 150 feet high, and about four 

 to five feet in diameter at the base ; but, nevertheless, I became, 

 to put it mildly, a trifle chagrined when I found where the nest 

 really was. 



On June 12 I returned, and by the aid of ropes, strings, 

 climbing irons, and two other people, I managed to get up the 

 tree, though it took me twenty minutes to do so, and less than 

 twenty seconds to come down. 



There were three young birds, which I will describe later ; and 

 while their parents flew screaming around my head, I lowered 

 them down in a basket and took them home alive, leaving their 

 persevering parents to start anew, if they cared to. 



This pair seem to have shown no particular preference in then- 

 choice of trees, as they built five times in evergreens and five 

 times in deciduous trees. They evidently preferred one small 

 locality for their nesting, though their hunting grounds were 

 quite extensive. 



Summing up, and comparing the histories of these birds, so 

 far as I can judge from my limited experience, I should say 

 that they almost invariably choose as a place for nesting, a tree, 

 either evergreen or deciduous, beside some swamp, brook, or 

 wet meadow ; and if they once learn to feel at home in a certain 

 locality, provided that that locality does not become too open and 

 civilized, they will almost invariably return to it, even when 

 repeatedly disturbed. 



