OF THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION, 167 



Twenty years ago, I knew a youth who shot one of these birds 

 as it flew over him while he lay concealed among the rushes on 

 the shore of Hamilton Bay watching for Ducks. On taking it 

 up he found an unusual appendage dangling from the 

 neck, which proved, on examination, to be the bleached skull of 

 a weasel. The teeth had the, "death grip" of the skin of the 

 bird's throat, and the feathers near this place were much 

 confused and broken. 



The Eagle had probably caught the weasel on the ground, 

 and rising with his prize, a struggle had ensued in the air, during 

 which the weasel had caught the bird by the throat and hung 

 there till he was squeezed and clawed to pieces. 



Bald Eagles are, during some winters, common at the 

 Beach, where they pick up any dead fish and " Cowheens " that 

 are shaken out of the fishermen's nets. Knowing the habits of 

 the birds, the fishermen often capture them by placing a 

 poisoned carcase near the edge of the ice. The bait is sure to 

 be taken by the first Eagle which comes along, and usually the 

 bird dies before leaving the spot. 



Subfamily FALCONIN.^. Falcons. 



Genus FALCO Linn^us. 



Subgenus RHYNCHODON Nitzsch. 



U3. FALCO PEREGRINUS ANATUM (Bonap.). 356. 



Duck Hafiek. 



Tarsus feathered but little way down in front, elsewhere irregularly 

 reticulated in small pattern, not longer than middle toe ; ist quill alone 

 decidedly emarginate on inner web, not shorter than the 3rd. Above blackish- 

 ash, with more or less evident paler waves ; below and the forehead, white, 

 more or less fulvous tinge, and transverse bars of blackish ; conspicuous 

 black ear-patches. Young with the colors not so intense and tending to 

 brown ; the tawny shade below stronger, the lower parts longitudinally 

 striped. Length, about 18 ; wing, 13-14 ; tail, 7-8. 



Hab. North America at large. 



Nest, in a tree, or on a rock, or on the ground. 



Eggs, 3 to 5 ; dull white, blotched with different shades of reddish- 

 brown. 



