UFF-IIISTORIKS OF BIRDS 



Eaclcs imperially. Cithcrotiia rc^alis. Tclca 

 and many of the larger Sphingidce and Noctuidce. The 

 bones of the small animals upon which it feeds are broken 

 in small pieces preparatory to deglutition. 



The period of mating occurs unusually early, often as 

 early as the middle of February : sometimes not before the 

 beginning, and even the middle of March. But little tiine 

 is spent in this business ; sometimes less than a dav suffices to 

 renew the plighted love of bv-gone years. The sexes display 

 considerably less than ordinary love for each other. Nesting 

 closely follows. The nest is ordinarily placed upon the 

 summit of a tall tree, mostly a species of Piuus^ and is com- 

 posed of a few rude coarse sticks, which are quite unsymmet- 

 rically arranged and lined with few dried grasses and 

 feathers. Very little time is spent in its completion : the 

 burden of the labor devolving almost exclusively upon the 

 female. Night-time is chiefly chosen for this business. In 

 some parts of the country the nests are deposited in hollow 

 trees and also in the crevices of rocks, and are lined with a 

 modicum of grasses and feathers. This was the experience 

 of Audubon. In New Jersey, according to Wilson, a tall tree 

 is usually selected in the midst of a swamp. We have fre- 

 quently noticed them in such places during our numerous 

 ornithological pilgrimages through the southern counties of 

 that .State. The numerous small 15/ards which inhabit such 

 places, certainly afford it a rich repast, and open up a 

 very fertile field for foraging during the period \\hen these 

 birds are with young; an endless and varied supply of suita- 

 able food-stuffs being obtained with but little outlay of 

 strength. 



The nest being finished, the female begins to deposit her 

 complement of eggs, which varies from two to three, accord- 

 ing to our experience ; but, generally, the former number is 

 laid. The eggs are deposited at the rate of one egg per day. 

 The female having finished this duty, instantly commences the 

 incubating process, the labor of which we have reason to 



