196 LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



utmost. It is a not uncommon occurrence to find cither 

 parent abroad in the daytime, even when the sun is on the 

 meridian, in quest of articles of diet. In this particular, 

 there is a noticeable contrast between this species and the 

 one previously referred to. The latter, owing to the small- 

 ness of its brood, is able not only to provide a full supply. 

 but also, in some instances, a superabundance of food, which 

 clearly manifests indubitable providence and forethought ; 

 consequently the parents are not compelled to forage dur- 

 ing the daytime. But, in the present case, to satisfy the 

 importunities of the young, they are frequently constrained 

 to search during the day. The chief part of the night 

 being spent in satisfying their own, as well as the exceedingly 

 voracious appetites of a somewhat numerous family. The 

 food of the young consists of field mice, and various coleop- 

 terous and lepidopterous insects. At the age of three weeks, 

 they are able to leave the nest, and receive their food quite 

 often in the tall grasses, at some distance from the nest. A 

 fortnight later, they diminish somewhat the labors of 

 their parents, by hunting slightly for themselves. The 

 expiration of a similar period finds them sufficiently strong 

 to attend to this essential business without parental assistance. 

 The call-notes of the young are two in number ; one expres- 

 sive of hunger or loneliness, and the other, of anger. In 

 addition thereto, when disturbed, they utter a loud hissing 

 sound, which is closely superseded by a sharp click of the 

 bill, indicative no doubt of disgust mingled with fear. 

 These sounds are succeeded by a violent throwing back of 

 the head, and the dilatation of the eyelids to their fullest 

 capacity. At the age of five months the young assume the 

 characteristic plumage of the adult bird ; the claws, how- 

 ever, continue to grow for a similar period, before they attain 

 complete development. At the age of four months, they 

 are able to imitate the cries of their parents with great nicety. 

 But a single brood is reared in a season. Sometimes, when 

 the nest has been broken up and its contents destroyed, 



