AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 53 



wings fully extended, scarce 1 y a tremble being perceptible to the eye. 



When they are suspicious of the presence of quarry under some 

 grassy cover, they will hover over the spot for a moment, and woe be- 

 tide the animal that shows the slightest motions, for that eagle eye 

 which is searching every blade of grass will detect it and — a sudden 

 rush and the merciless talons have the unfortunate victim in their re- 

 lentless grasp. 



On cloudy days or just before dusk is the most favorable time to see 

 these hawks, as this is the time when the meadow mice are the most 

 active and therefore is the favorite meal time for the hawks. Besides 

 meadow mice and moles, they feed largely upon grasshoppers, frogs, 

 small birds and even snakes. The percentage of birds that they eat is 

 relatively small as compared to the mice that they destroy and they are 

 classed as one of the most useful of the hawk family. When a favorable 

 opportunity occurs or when other provender is scarce they also try their 

 hand, or rather feet, at poultry raising, generally with considerable 

 success. I am inclined to think it is individuals rather than the ma- 

 jority of the species who are given to chicken stealing. 



As these hawks are generally seen in pairs even during the winter it 

 is believed that they remain mated through life. Unless robbed fre- 

 quently of their treasures the same pair will return to the same nesting 

 grounds year after year. 



During the mating season or that period immediately preceding the 

 nest building, they are very active and a pair may often be seen chas- 

 ing one another, in the meantime uttering the most piercing of whistles 

 or screams. A nesting site is chosen a short distance from the water 

 or it may be that it will be placed in a small clump of grass entirely 

 surrounded by water. Weeds and grasses are gathered and arranged 

 in circular form until the exterior of the nest is two or three inches 

 above the ground. In case it is very damp they may first build a plat- 

 form of sticks and twigs. Both birds take part in the nest building and 

 also in the incubation of the eggs which lasts about three weeks. 



The young are covered with a soft white down, through which at the 

 end of the first week a few pinfeathers begin to show. These increase 

 in number and size, gradually bursting the tubes and exposing the dark 

 feathers, until at the end of the third or fourth week the hawk is able to 

 flap his wings and clumsily make his first flight. For several weeks 

 after they are able to fly they are followed and fed by their parents, 

 who gradually instruct them in the arts and ways of catching their own 

 food. The young when in the nest are generally wild and will bite and 

 scratch if any attempt is made to handle them. 



