258 LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



thus indicate the site of a nest which otherwise might have been over- 

 looked. * * * The parent birds usually denote the proximity of a nest 

 by sailing high in the air over the locality. Occasionally a nest may be 

 discovered in an unexpected location. I found one, some 3 or 4 miles from 

 the mouth of the Kotsoak River, on a grassy ledge, near the top of the 

 side of a short but deep ravine. The nest was easily approached from the 

 top without other labor than that of walking down to it. The positions 

 of nests of various birds of prey were often a matter of wonder to me how 

 they escaped the ravages of foxes and other prowlers. * * * At other 

 times the nest is placed in a most inaccessible spot. I thought these we im- 

 probably the nests of birds which may have been more persecuted than 

 others and had not profited by experience. At no time did I observe any- 

 thing like fierceness exhibited by these birds, either when wounded or when 

 their nest was approached. The male can seldom be secured near the nest, 

 while the female is sometimes heedless of distance, although rarely approach- 

 ing very near." 



In regard to the nesting sites most frequently made use of in the Fur 

 Country, Mr. R. MacFarlane's experience was quite different, showing that the 

 nesting habits of this, as well as of many other species, differ greatly in 

 places, the birds adapting themselves to the immediate surroundings. ( hit of 

 the fifty-eight nests found by him, forty-six were placed in trees, usually 

 pines, and at an average height of about 20 feet from the ground. The 

 remaining twelve were built on the edges of steep cliffs of shaly mud, on the 

 banks of creeks, rivers, or lakes. Such nests as were found in trees were 

 usually placed in a crotch not far from the top, composed of sticks and 

 warmly lined with dry grasses, down, and feathers. Those on cliffs were 

 similarly constructed, but usually with a smaller base of sticks and better lined. 



The eggs vary from two to five in number, usually three or four, and 

 are deposited at intervals of two or three days, and were often found in 

 different stages of incubation. With but few exceptions, most of Mr. R. 

 MacFarlane's specimens were found during the month of June. The earliest 

 date on which he took eggs of this species, according to the records here, 

 was on May 23. Mr. L. M. Turner took a set on May 24, evidently not 

 complete, and the remainder in June. The middle of June seems to be the 

 proper time to look for full sets. 



Incubation lasts about four weeks, and by the middle of July most of 

 the young are hatched and they leave the nest about the beginning of Sep- 

 tember. According to Mr. Turner, the young appear to be able to take care 

 of themselves as soon as they leave the nest. He says the Eskimo apply 

 the name of "Kin-wi-yuk" (in imitation of its notes) to this species, and that 

 the people of Labrador term it the "Squalling Hawk," from the noise it makes 

 when alarmed. 



But one brood is raised in a season. The eggs of the American Rough- 

 legged Hawk vary greatly in size as well as in shape. Some are ovate, 



