THE RED-SHOULDERED HAWK. 39 



always an easy matter, as our beech-trees are not only very 

 smooth, but frequently without any boughs to a considerable dis- 

 tance from the ground, as well as of rather large size), the female 

 bird, if she happens to be sitting, flies off silently, and alights on a 

 neighboring tree to wait the result; but should the male, who 

 supplies her with food, and assists in incubation, be there, or make 

 his appearance, he immediately sets up a hue and cry, and plunges 

 toward the assailant with such violence as to astonish him. 



" When, on several occasions, I have had the tree, on which the 

 nest was placed, cut down, I have observed the same pair, a few 

 days after, build another nest on a tree not far distant from the 

 spot in which the first one had been. 



" The mutual attachment of the male and the female continues 

 during life. They usually hunt in pairs during the whole year ; 

 and, although they build a new nest every spring, they are fond of 

 resorting to the same parts of the woods for that purpose. 1 



" The young remain in the nest until fully fledged, and are fed 

 by the parents for several weeks after they have begun to fly ; but 

 leave them, and begin to shift for themselves, in about a month, 

 when they disperse, and hunt separately, until the approach of the 

 succeeding spring, at which time they pair. 



" This Hawk seldom attacks any kind of poultry, and yet fre- 

 quently pounces on partridges, doves, or wild pigeons, as well as 

 red-winged blackbirds, and now and then young rabbits. On one 

 or two occasions, I have seen them make their appearance at the 

 report of my gun, and try to rob me of some blue-winged teals, 

 shot in small ponds. I have never seen them chase any other 

 small birds than those mentioned, or quadrupeds of smaller size 

 than the Cotton Rat." 



My experience has been different from the above para- 

 graph ; for I have known of this Hawk attacking poultry, 

 and, even several times in the same flock, killing a fowl each 

 time. The breeding habits of this and the Bed-tailed Hawk 

 are so exactly similar, that the above description well 

 answers for both. 



1 I have known of the same nest being occupied by a pair of these birds for 

 several seasons. E. A. S. 



