189 



FUOD UF THE BROAD- WING. 



Ciiirfiil iiivfstigations in both field aud laboiatorj 

 demoustrate conclusively that this hawk does not dis- 

 turb the farnieis' poultry and that it rarely attacks 

 small wild birds. Its dietary is made up principally 

 of insects (different kinds of grasshoppers, crickets, 

 locusts, beetles and larvae) the smaller species of 

 mammals, reptiles, and batrachians. Occasionally, 

 when other food supplies are not readily obtainable, 

 this hawk will catch yo'ung or disabled birds. Toads, 

 frogs and snakes are eagerly hunted and eaten by this 

 species. Referring to its fondness for toads, frogs, 

 snakes and injurious larvae (grubs), Dr. A. K. Fisher 

 says : 



"In spring, when toads frequent ponds to spawn, it devours 

 large numbers of" them, and later in the season it is not an 

 uncom.mon occurrence to see an individual with a frog or 

 snake dangling from its talons." Continuing, the same 

 writer adds: "The only act of the Broad-winged Hawk which 

 seems injurious to agriculture is the killing of toads and 

 small snaks; the former of which are exclusively insect 

 eaters, the latter very largely so. In one i-espect its enormous 

 value rank.s above all other birds, and that is in the destruc- 

 tion of immense numbers of injurious larvae of large moths, 

 which most birds are either unable or disinclined to cope 

 with." 



In twelve specimens examined by myself, four re- 

 vealed mice; three, small birds; four, frogs; one, killed 

 the 22d of May, 1882, was gorged with crawfish, with 

 which were traces of coleopterous insects (beetles). 



WHAT OTHER WRITERS SAY ABOUT ITS FOOD. 



Audubon says: "In the stomach of this bird I found wood 

 frogs, portions of small snakes, together with feathers, and 

 the hail- of several small specimens of quadrupeds." (Ornith. 

 Biography. Vol. I, p. 463.) 



Mr. J. W. Preston says: "Their food consists .of small 

 squirrels, frogs, and, in fact, any small quarry easily cap- 

 tured. Never have I known them to molest the poultry." 

 (Ornith. and Oologist, Vol. XIII, 188, p. 20.) 



Mr. .7. G. Wells, speaking of the bird in the West Indies, 

 says: "Numerous; feeds on lizards, rats, snakes, young 



