182 



{)roach, uttering cries of distress, and seerainj^ly to en- 

 gage in mutual condolence over their misfortune. 



HOW THEY CATCH SQUIRREI^S. 



During the breeding season they frequently hunt to- 

 gether for food for themselves and young "and if, per- 

 chance, they spy a squirrel on a tree, one will drive it 

 while the other poises itself ready to seize it if it 

 dodges to the other side to evade the grasp of the first 

 liawk. From the two there is no escape. Grasping 

 it firmly by the neck, the assailant practically demon- 

 strates the possibility of garroting its victim, when the 

 ill-fated squin-el is carried to the eyrie and torn to 

 |)ieces to satiate the cravings of their rapacious 

 young." — AVood. 



WILL TAKE CHICKENS. 



Red-tailed hawks, when mice or other food supplies 

 are not readily obtainable, unquestionably will catch 

 poultry, and they do not, at such times, hesitate to at- 

 tack full grown fowls. It may be that they prefer to 

 make warfare on sick or weakly chickens, but, of this 

 T am not convinced, as I have known of a number of 

 instances where these hawks have attacked and killed 

 chickens in full vigor of life. Observations of this 

 bird, however, lead me to believe, that except in win 

 ter when its preferred and natural bill of fare — mice, 

 shrews and insects — are liard to obtain, or, in the 

 breeding period, when its young require so mucli focMl. 

 it is rather exceptional for the Ked-tailed to attack do 

 mestic fowls. A good many rabbits and squirrels are 

 eaten by the Red-tail, yet the farmer should not com 

 plain as tiiese mammals are no benefit to liim. 



