150 HOW TO STUDY BIRDS 



family. I had a camera rigged up near the nest, and 

 was in hiding for hours, on several occasions. 



Now and then one of the old birds would bring 

 a small bird to the youngster, all plucked, which he 

 would tear up and gulp down in short order. At one 

 time a family party of red-eyed vireos were feeding in 

 the foliage close around the tent, calling to each other 

 rather noisily. Suddenly I heard a violent rush of 

 air, and the sharp-shin, almost striking the tent, 

 seized a vireo, and perched with it close by. I could 

 hear the dying wails of the poor victim, as the hawk 

 began to pluck it. This process took some five min- 

 utes, during which time the young hawk was nearly 

 frantic, jumping about the nest, stretching its neck, 

 whining and begging. Then the old one flew up on 

 the nest, delivered the morsel, and stood upright and 

 still, watching her young hopeful struggling to rend 

 the quarry. At this juncture I pulled the thread con* 

 necting with the camera and secured a picture. 



Acquaintance with the raptorial birds in nesting- 

 time will give a basis for recognizing them when they 

 are met at other times of the year. In autumn a 

 great many of them are passing south, even at times 

 in flocks, straggling along in open country, following 

 water-courses or ranges of hills. When we are 

 quietly prowling about in the woods, a hawk may 

 suddenly dash in near by and give a chance to exam- 

 ine it before we are detected and the bird has flown. 

 We may watch them as they circle in the air, or 

 descend upon their prey. 



