BIRDS OF INDIANA. 787 



lb .No. 5 339. Red -shouldered Hawk. Taken April 5, 1890, three 

 miles northeast of Waterloo. In low, marshy woods. Nest in oak 

 tree, about 75 feet from ground. Very small nest probably an old 

 crow's nest repaired. Birds very aggressive and repeatedly flew past 

 my head as I was climbing. Eggs are very peculiar, being pear-shaped 

 and finely speckled all over with lavender and brown. Four eggs. In- 

 cubation commenced. 



"No. 34339. Eed-shouldered Hawk. Taken April 25, 1890, in 

 same woods as No. 5 and about 200 yards from same place. Un- 

 doubtedly the same birds, as the eggs are exactly like those described 

 above. Nest in large oak tree, very hard to climb. Birds very aggres- 

 sive, as before. Three fresh eggs. On the edge of the nest was a large 

 dead garter snake. This set is now in the State Museum. 



"No. 27339. Eed-shouldered Hawk. Three fresh eggs taken 

 April 18, 1890, three miles south of Waterloo. Eggs remarkably 

 small, as small as those of Cooper's Hawk. Nest in large sugar tree, 

 about 60 feet up, and was lined with an old Baltimore Oriole's nest. 

 The birds were very bold and remained after I descended. I shot the 

 female to assure myself as to the identity. This set is also in the State 

 Museum." 



Most persons give three as the common number of eggs, but four 

 are probably as often found, and often five. The eggs are laid at in- 

 tervals of two or three days. The period of incubation is about four 

 weeks (Bendire). In this species both sexes share the labor of build- 

 ing, incubating and feeding the young. It is said, should the female 

 be killed, the male will rear the young. 



The Eed-shouldered Hawk is mostly beneficial. In the immature 

 plumage it is known as Winter Falcon. Its food is more varied than 

 that of most Hawks. Tinder the direction of Dr. C. Hart Merriam, 

 Ornithologist of the United States Department of Agriculture, the 

 food of this Hawk was studied. Of 220 stomachs examined, three 

 contained poultry; 12, other birds; 102, mice; 40, other mammals; 20, 

 reptiles; 39, batrachians; 92, insects; 16, spiders; 7, crawfish; 1, earth- 

 worms; 2, offal; 3, fish, and 14 were empty. It was thus shown that 

 at least 65 per cent, of their food consists of small rodents, while they 

 and injurious insects amount to about 90 per cent. Hardly 1J per 

 cent, thereof was poultry and game. These valuable birds deserve 

 and should receive the protection of every one, particularly the farmer. 



