408 



THE RED-SHOULDERED HAWK. 



ten t i o u s 

 structure of 

 their own 

 where 

 spre ading 

 branches of 

 beech or oak 

 or elm offer 

 secure lodg- 

 ment, close 

 to the trunk 

 or a little 

 way r e- 

 moved. In 

 case a 

 Crow's nest 

 is used its 

 undesirable 

 concavity is 

 filled up with 

 addi t i onal 

 bark - strips, 

 corn husks, 

 or dead 

 leaves, so 

 that the eggs 

 of the Hawk 

 occupy only 

 a slight de- 

 p r e s s i o n. 

 Fresh eggs 

 may be look- 

 ed for about 



the middle of April. Only one brood is regularly raised in a season, but in 

 case the first eggs are destroyed the birds will make one or two more attempts. 

 Incubation lasts about four weeks and is attended to by both birds. As the 

 operation progresses feathers drop out increasingly from the birds' breasts, 

 so that a well feathered nest means eggs nearly ready to hatch. When dis- 

 turbed the parent birds keep up a pitiful complaining, but usually from a safe 

 distance. 



The eggs, varying in number from two to six, are among the best known 

 of Hawks' eggs and present interesting variations both in size, in shape, and 



Photo by R. F. Griggs. 



ANOTHER NEST. 



