188 



very similar to that of the Cooper's Hawk; it is made 

 of sticks, twigs, leaves, rootlets, lined with feathers; 

 one I have found lined with bark. The complement 

 of eggs are somewhat larger than those of the Cooper's 

 Hawk, with a dull white, grayish ground color, with 

 brownish red spots, which vary in size from specks to 

 large patches, frequently confluent. 



IS AN UNSUSPICIOUS BIKD. 



This ha\Ak is generally easily captured, appearing 

 quite tame and unsuspicious. To this fact, no doubt, 

 is largely due the scarcity of the species in many sec- 

 tions of our 8tate where in former times, or before 

 hawks were hunted for bounty', these birds were quite 

 plentiful. I have always found the Kroad-winged 

 Hawk to be cowardly, and never knew it to evince any 

 disposition to repel an invasion, by man, of its nest. 



It would seem, however, that the disposition of this 

 bird, under certain circumstances, is very variable. 

 Mr. A. G. Boardman, of Maine, who has found several 

 nests and secured the eggs, finds it to be courageous 

 and spirited. A man whom lie had employed to ob- 

 tain a nest, was attacked with great fury, while as- 

 cending the tree; his cap was torn from his head, and 

 he would have been seriously injured if the bird had 

 .not been shot. Another instance is mentioned by Dr. 

 Wood, where this hawk attacked a boy climbing to 

 her nest, fastened her talons in his arm, and could not 

 be removed until beaten otf and killed witli a club. 

 In speaking of this bird. Dr. Wood says: 



"Seldom, if ever, does it seize its pi-ey on the wing, but se- 

 cures it mostly on the ground, subsisting on frogs, snakes, 

 mice and small birds, devouring the latter without removiiii;- 

 the feathers. This hawk in its habits is not as neat in prepar- 

 ing its food as most of its genus; holding its prey with both 

 feet, it tears and eats without much regard to cleanliness or 

 feathers." 



