GREAT-FOOTED HAWK. H 



saw five adult birds of this species about Mount Tom. Dr. W. 

 Wood, of East- Windsor Hill, Conn., informs me, that two pairs of 

 Duck Hawks were evidently breeding on Talcott Mountain in the 

 summer of 1863. 



" Discovery of the Eggs on Mount Tom. Although the Duck 

 Hawk has been long known to breed at the localities in Massachu- 

 setts mentioned above, those conversant with the fact were not 

 aware that any special interest was attached to it, or that its eggs 

 and breeding habits were but very little known to ornithologists ; 

 and so, until very recently, no particular efforts have been made to 

 obtain the eggs. Mr. Bennett, becoming aware of this, resolved 

 to procure the eggs. He accordingly visited Mount Tom for this 

 purpose, April 7, of the present year, when he searched the whole 

 ridge of the mountain, discovered the old birds, and the particular 

 part they most frequented, and also the site of a nest where young 

 had been raised. The old birds were continually near this spot, 

 and manifested much solicitude when it was approached, often 

 flying within six or eight rods ; and once the female came within 

 three, screaming and thrusting out her talons with an expression of 

 great rage and fierceness. The birds did not appear at all shy, 

 being easily approached quite near to ; though, in walking, the crack- 

 ing of sticks and the clinking of the splinters of trap-rock made no 

 little noise. One of the birds appeared to keep close to the eyrie ; 

 and both would approach whenever it was visited, screaming at and 

 menacing the intruder,' notwithstanding that at that time there were 

 no eggs, as was afterwards proved. Mr. Bennett, suspecting that 

 incubation had already commenced, visited the locality again on the 

 9th, but only saw the old nest ; the birds behaving as before. On 

 April 19, ten days later, he made another visit; and creeping 

 carefully to the summit of the cliff, at a point near the eyrie 

 already spoken of, he saw the female, on looking over the cliff, 

 sitting on the nest, and but five or six yards distant. She eyed him 

 fiercely for an instant, and then, scrambling from the nest to the 

 edge of the narrow shelf supporting it, launched into the air : in a 

 twinkling, Mr. Bennett's unerring aim sent her tumbling dead at 

 the foot of the precipice, several hundred feet below. The nest 

 contained four eggs, which were soon safely secured, and the body 

 of the female was obtained from the foot of the cliff. The male, 

 soon coming about, was shot at ; but he was too shy to come within 



