138 BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



plentifully scattered over the rocks. I shot the male soon after collect- 

 ing- the eggs, and have it now in my collection of birds." Dr. W. L. 

 Hartman, of Luzerne county, says: "The Great-footed or Duck Hawk 

 breeds regularly in this locality (Pittston) in an almost inaccessible ledge 

 of rocks." Mr. Thomas S. Gillin, Ambler, Montgomery county, says : 

 "I have had many opportunities of observing- them, having- shot twelve 

 inside of a radius of five miles of this place ; in fact see them regularly, 

 and know of two nesting places in this state." Dr. T. Z. Hazzard, 

 Allegheny county ; Mr. O. B. Hark, Northampton county, and W. P. 

 Bolton, Montgomery county, also mention it as a breeder. Dr. John W. 

 Detwiller and Mr. Samuel Mack, both residents of Bethlehem, have, on 

 different occasions, found Duck Hawks' nests. With regard to their 

 breeding in this state, Dr. Detwiller (letter November 2, 1889) says : 

 " Duck Hawk, secured set of four eggs from the cliffs of * Camel's 

 Ledge,' Pittson, 1880 ; 1886 secured two sets of four eggs in each set, 

 one at Skinner's Eddy and the other at ' Buttermilk Falls,' Susquehanna 

 river (East branch). 1887 secured a set of four eggs, and another of 

 three, at ' The Narrows,' Delaware river. Month of incubation, April." 



Reports which I have received from other naturalists and collectors, 

 show that the Duck Hawk has been observed in other parts of the state 

 as a straggler in the spring and fall, or as a rather rare and irregular 

 winter visitor. I have never found the nest of this bird. Dr. Coues 

 states that it " breed as far south as Virginia at least ; eggs, 2-5, oftener 

 3-4, 2.10 to 2.35X1.60 to 1.75, averaging about 2.25X1.65; white or 

 whitish, spotted, blotched, wreathed, clouded, etc., with the reddish- 

 browns, from chocolate or even purplish to the ochres." Key. N. A 

 Birds. 



" He pursues the smaller ducks, water-hens, and other swimming birds ; 

 and, if they are not quick in diving seizes them, and rises with them 

 from the water. I have seen this hawk come at the report of a gun, and 

 carry off a teal, not thirty steps distant from the sportsman who had killed 

 it, with a daring assurance as surprising as unexpected. This conduct 

 has been observed by many individuals, and is a characteristic trait of 

 this species. The largest bird that I have seen this hawk attack and 

 grapple with on the wing is the Mallard. 



"The Great-footed Hawk does not, however, content himself with 

 water-fowl. He is generally seen following the flocks of pigeons, and 

 even blackbirds, causing great terror in their ranks, and forcing them 

 to perform aerial evolutions to escape the grasp of his dreaded talons. 

 For several days I watched one of them that had taken a particular 

 fancy to some tame pigeons, to secure which, it went so far as to enter 

 their house at one of the holes, seize a bird, and issue by another hole 

 in an instant, causing such terror among the rest as to render me fear- 

 ful that they would abandon the place. However, I fortunately shot 



