6 



ORNITHOLOGIST 



[Vol. 6-Nu. ] 



Sparrow Hawk. 



Breeding at Portland, Conn. — In May 

 1879 I secured a set of eggs of Falco spar- 

 verius found in such a manrjer as to prove 

 that this Hawk does not always, if ever, 

 construct a nest of its own. 



A farmer had arranged seven nests for 

 ■Pigeons inside his barn, with holes through 

 the side of the building communicating 

 with them, and the nest at the corner was 

 appropriated by the Hawks, and contained 

 no other material than that used by the 

 Pigeons in constructing it. May 4th two 

 eggs were found, and May 7th four eggs, 

 at which time they were all removed. Two 

 or three days later another egg M^as laid 

 and then the birds deserted the nest. In 

 order tj show that peace prevailed, it may 

 be stated that the Pigeons occupied three 

 of the other nests at the same time the 

 Hawks were endeavoring to raise their 

 brood. The farmers boy informed me that 

 the Hawks had been about the barn all the 

 previous winter, and although continually 

 disturbed while laying, I found them quite 

 tame ; the female not moving until after 

 the board (which covered all the nests) had 

 been removed, and then only flying tj an 

 apple tree near the barn, where she was 

 soon joined by her mate, and the two sat 

 coiiteutelly arranging their ijlumxge in the 

 sunlight as unconcerned as a pair of the 

 pigeons with which they were breeding 

 would have done under similar circum- 

 stances. 



Sharp-shinned Hawk. — I have a specimen 

 of the male Sharp-shinned Hawk {Accipi- 

 ter fuscus) taken in this vicinity Feb. 4th, 

 1881. It was in good flesh and cont:iined 

 the remains of Parus atricupillus and 

 Chrysomitris tristis. Another specimen 

 was seen at the same time but unfortunately 

 was not captured. 



Merriam in his "Review of (./oun. Birds" 

 ^ in writing of the Sharp-shinned Hawk says, 

 " I have no au hentic record of its occur- 

 rence here in winter." The taking of this 

 specimen in winter in this locality is inter- 

 estinsf. — Jno. H. Sage. 



Night Herons in Winter. 



In the Oologist for September your cor- 

 respondent, M.'B. G. states, that in Feb- 

 ruary, 1879 he shot two adult males, one 

 adult female, and one young Night Heron, 

 during cold weather ; ground covered with 

 snow and creeks frozen. It has been gen- 

 erally supposed this bird was only a sum- 

 mer visitor. I can add my testimony 

 showing they are not so tender to cold as 

 some suppose. The following winter, '79 

 and '80, I had a tame Night Heron which 

 I reared the previous summer, but with 

 full liberty to go where he pleased. I 

 reared two, but one "took the wings of the 

 night' and did not return ; before winter 

 the other took long flights at twiligJit but 

 always returned ; was never absent in the 

 morning when he expected his rations. He 

 sat in evergreen trees opposite the house, 

 or sunned himself on the fence ; was very 

 affectionate to* the family, not stirring 

 when we apjiroached him very closely, and 

 would run or fly after those who fed him, 

 taking meat from the hand. He would go 

 in the detached kitchen, but not in the 

 house further than the door, not the least 

 afraid of cat or dog ; and should they ven- 

 ture within the reach of his long sharp- 

 pointed bill would have reason to remem- 

 ber it. I supposed he would die when 

 winter set in, which was a cold one, yet he 

 seemed not to mind it, he even seemed in 

 better condition than poultry ; was hearty 

 and sleek. He roosted on the evergreen 

 trees at night, taking shelter on the stoop 

 in hard weather ; he would eat nothing but 

 meat or fish. I will not enlarge on the 

 considerable amusement he gave us, but 

 simply verify the statements of your cor- 

 respomlent, that cold did not seem so un- 

 congenial. — Henry Hales, Ridgewood^.J. 



Least Bittern. — Mr. Fred. T. Jencks of 

 Providence, R. I., reports purchasing a 

 beautiful specimen of the alcove bird which 

 had been killed by a boy with a bean snap- 

 per on Feb. 28, 1881. Where had this del- 

 icate bird spent the winter? 



