266 LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



and birds which their parents capture, besides an immense 

 number of grasshoppers and beetles. 



The eggs of this species are spheroidal-oval, and slightly 

 pointed at one extremity. The ground-color is a dingv- 

 white, frequently tinged with brown. It is marked with 

 numerous yellowish-brown blotches, and other shades of 

 brown. It is not unusual to find nearly unspotted specimens 

 in the same nest w r ith others of bold decided markings. 

 Their measurement varies from 2.20 to 1.99 inches in length. 

 and from i.Si to 1.55 inches in breadth. Four eggs, some- 

 times three or two, constitute the nest-complement. 



Buteo pennsylvanicus, 



The Broad-winged Hawk is somewhat irregularly distrib- 

 uted throughout North America, and probably ranges from 

 Florida to Texas, and from New Brunswick westward to 

 the Missouri Valley. It probably exists in the Saskatchewan 

 Valley, and also in Central America. In Florida, it is a 

 common resident. It is said to breed in Cuba, but is un- 

 known in Jamaica. Mr. Skinner reports its occurrence 

 in Guatemala. Audubon never found it in Louisiana, but 

 westward in various parts of Texas, particularly in the 

 vicinity of San Antonio. It nests on the Colorado, early in 

 June, upon lofty cotton-wood trees, but the structure is 

 almost unapproachable. While it is absent from Nova 

 Scotia, according to Mr. Downes, it is quite common in 

 New Brunswick, and also in the eastern parts of Maine. 



In Eastern Pennsylvania, it is uncommonly scarce, but a 

 few individuals being observed during the autumnal and 

 winter months. It arrives in early November, and usually 

 retires to its breeding-grounds, during the last of March, or 

 the beginning of April. It prefers high open woods, and 

 waste grounds chiefly of a marshy character, seldom ven- 

 turing near to human habitations. Contrary to Audubon's 

 description of its habits, we have always observed it to be- 

 a bold, spirited creature, and bv no means lacking in that 



