86 C. IL Merriam — Birds of Connecticut. 



hatch."* The Red-tailed Hawk generally lays two, frequently three, 

 and sometimes four, eggs. In writing of them, from Portland, Conn., 

 Mr. Coe says : " Their nests are easily identified, being the largest 

 nests built in this locality, and the earliest. They lay in the same 

 nest year after year if not disturbed, and often if they are. I once 

 found a nest in a young chestnut, not over twenty feet from the 

 ground, but they commonly build high up in large trees."f 



The Rev. Mr. Peabody, in his Report on the Birds of Massachu- 

 setts (in 1839), remarked that these Hawks, " like the Crow, seem to 

 have an intuitive perception of the use and reach of the gun, for if 

 they see a person armed, they give a scream of disgust, and sail 

 away far beyond his reach. "| 



They are often called Hen Hawks from their frequent visits to the 

 poultry yard. I have also found, in their alimentary canals, the 

 remains of mice, snakes, and frogs. 



1 64. ButeO lineatUS (Gmelin) Jardine. Red-slioiildered Hawk. 



A common resident, like the last, but more frequently seen in win- 

 ter. Also breeds in high trees. Mr. Coe writes me that it generally 

 lays a little later than the Red-tail, makes a smaller nest, and is more 

 likely to build a new one every year. He has taken their eggs from 

 April 16th (only one egg, just deposited) till May 19th. They 

 generally lay three or four eggs, and sometimes five. Dr. Wood once 

 found six ! I once took from the stomach of one of these Hawks a 

 snake {Eutainia saurita) measuring twenty-two inches in length ! 



A young bird, which Dr. Wood raised, became very much attached 

 to him. He says : " by giving a whistle he would answer w ith his 

 ka-hee^ ka-Iiee., ka-hee^ and fiy from the tree and alight on my shoulder, 

 expecting his accustomed morsel. I did not confine him at all, but 

 allowed him to fly where he pleased, knowing that he would not go far 

 oft'. The domestic fowls became so well acquainted with him that 

 they showed no signs of fear when he alighted on a tree or post wvwr 

 them. One morning he did not come at iny call, nor at noon. In 

 the afternoon I went in search of him and whistled till my lips would 

 not pucker any longer, yet no bird answered to the music. The next 

 morning he was brought to me as a rare specimen with the following 



* MS. notes of the Stadtmiillcr Brothers, 

 f MS. notes of W. W. Coe. 



\ A Report on the ( )rnitholog'y of Massacluisetts, by WilHam B. O. Peabody, p. 

 268. 18:^9. 



