:8S8.] Roddy on Feeding Habits of Toitng Rapt ores. 2 A. J 



refuse water, — in this respect acting quite ditlerently from the 

 Cathartcs aura^ which (h^ank water freely. 



It rejected cold and stilV birds which hatl lain a ilay or more, 

 especially when abundance of food was furnished. Perhaps tliis 

 is owing to the coagulated condition of the blood and the diying 

 up of the visceral juices, of both of which it appeared to be so 

 fond. 



It made no sounds to express pleasure or displeasure during 

 captivity, but when free and flying made the sounds common to 

 the adults of this species. 



Buteo pennsylvanicus. — Side by side with the Accipitcr 

 coopcriX reared a Jyuteo pennsylvanicus of about the same age. 

 The characters of the two birds were essentially ditrerent. The 

 fierce aspect of the Accipiter showed itself quite early, and indi- 

 cated by its every action its rapacity and daring. The Buteo, 

 on the other hand, was mild in appearance and never exhibited 

 the fierceness nor voracity of the Accipiter. 



But 1 succeeded better in petting the latter. It seemed to grow 

 rapidly fond of my company. The Buteo, however, neither 

 expressed pleasure, nor showed displeasure upon my coming 

 near it, though it would make itself felt when one attempted to 

 handle it. It never, however, used its claws with the same 

 spirit as the Accipiter. I could handle the latter with impunity 

 after it grew to know me. .Strangers, it fought with spirit and 

 resisted all their attempts at familiarity. The Buteo regarded 

 all alike, seemingly neither as foes nor as friends. 



Its voracity was not nearly so great as that of the Cooper's 

 Hawk. It never at any time ate more than five Sparrows a day, 

 and generally fewer than five. It, too, was more dainty in its 

 feeding, nearly always pulling the feathers before eating. It was 

 fond of insects, especially preferring grasshoppers, and ate frogs 

 and fish with apparent relish. This the Accipiter did only when 

 very hungry. 



If any preference was shown by these Hawks in the selection 

 of food, it was for food in the form of warm birds. And I expe- 

 rienced some difficulty in procuring enough Sparrows for them. 

 I wished to supply in abundance the food they preferred, in 

 order to make the conditions of their growth most favorable, 

 and further to test their effect upon physical organization. The 

 effects were apparent in larger size and more robust physique. 



