270 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



the tojj ol' a willow, and in its constiiution tuok in several distinct linilis, so 

 as to j{ive belter siijiiiort. Tiie nest, about two feet across and one toot 

 in thickness, was constructed of tiiin sticks and fraj,'nients of roots. The 

 inside was lined with leaves of tule and i^rass. The nest contained two ej^'^s. 

 Only eijfht feet IVoni this nest, on the same bush, and at the sana; height, a 

 I'eniale ol' JrfrrKM hullovki was on her nest. These l)irds apjjcared to be liv- 

 ing together in harmony, having been in coiLstant sight of each other for 

 several weeks, as the condition of the eggs i)ro\ed. 1 deem this remark- 

 able only as showing a rajiacious and an insectivorous l)ird living so closely 

 together that one might at any time have been made the prey of the other 

 by a single spread of the wings." 



Dr. (jideon Lincecum, of Washington County, Texas, speaks of this spe- 

 cies as one of the common Hawks of the Texan prairies. He states that it 



Ttiitfo nottinsoni (young). 



nests on the ground in the prairie ; lays six eggs, sometimes on tall trees, 

 — when it chooses to rear its young in the forest. It is apt to i)onnce on a 

 brood of young ])oultry when it sees them, but being rather timid does not 

 like to go about the houses. Its i)rincipal food is grassho])])ers, prairie rats 

 and mice, and small birds. Dr. Lincecum has often seen it wIkmi the 

 grass on the prairie was burning, in the spring of the year, constantly on 

 the wing, in front of the fire, catching the grassho])pers, rats, mice, and 

 any small game that is driven out of the grass by the crackling fire; and 

 it will keep in the smoke so close to the fire that it soon becomes almost 

 as black as soot. He further remarks that, " when any one ai)i)roaches their 

 nest on the prairie, they will make a pretty bold attempt to frighten or decoy 

 him away from it. It first tries to lead the intruder off, by alighting in the 



