OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. 181 



bill, or secured in the firm grasp of its powerful claws. It 

 does not scruple to conceal itself behind a tuft of grasses, or 

 to arouse our smaller birds from their perches, when there 

 is great demand for food. 



At night these birds emit a peculiar plaintive cry which 

 resembles somewhat the whining lamentations of young 

 puppies. This sound alternates from high to low, and is 

 occasionally varied by deep guttural trills. Until long after 

 midnight are these lugubrious sounds prolonged, being 

 doubtless intended as a summons from the female to her 

 partner, and vice versa. As these sounds are heard while in 

 quest of prey, it is more than probable that they are designed 

 to startle small birds from their coverts, and thus insure 

 their ready capture. The usual cry resembles wha-a-a-a-a. 



The food of this species consists of the following vertebrate 

 and articulate animals : Mits muscnhis* JacuJus hudsonius*, 

 Arvicola Gxppcri, A. riparia, Hespzromys leucopus, Con- 

 dylura cristata, Scat ops aquaticus, Juitco hy emails, 

 Melospiza melodia, Spizclla socialis, S. monticola, Sialia 

 sialis, and many of our smaller Sylvicolidce* among the 

 former ; and Acheta nigra, the mole cricket, CyrtopKyTtus 

 concavus, Telea polyp hemus, Platysamia cecropia* Sphinx 

 quinquemaculatus, Smerinthus cxccecata, Catocala, and 

 larger Noctuidce* 



o 



Mating commences during the latter part of March, 

 sometimes earlier, when the season is favorable. The sexes 

 manifest at this period more than the usual love for each other. 

 At other times, there seems to be but little anxiety manifested 

 for each other, the sole engrossing thought being appetitive 

 gratification. As the cries above mentioned are as often 

 heard outside of the breeding-season, we have concluded 

 that they cannot be considered at all times as the call-notes 

 of either male or female for its companion. The time spent 

 in mating is not necessarily long, about two days being d e. 

 voted to this essential business, sometimes a less time 

 sufficing. There are but few of those amusing and uppar- 



