PREFACE. 
Twenty-two years of personal observation and five years 
of close study of the literature of the subject of this paper, 
is perhaps none too long for the object in view, namely the 
inclusion in a single volume of the sum of our present knowl- 
edge of the life history of the species. In its ninety-eight 
years of history, the Broad-winged Hawk has always been 
considered rather rare, and for this, more than any other 
reason, perhaps, it has received a far greater amount of at- 
tention in a literary sense than the experience of the average 
observer would seem to warrant. With chastened spirit, one 
may trace many of the inaccuracies step by step back to the 
original statement. [ven with the expectation of a vast 
amount of reiteration, and the possession of the saving sense 
of humor, the lack of originality of so many writers in ref- 
erence to this species is all too painfully evident. | therefore 
point to the above in excuse for my frequent sacrifice of 
brevity in an honest endeavor to cite all statements in as 
nearly the exact words of the observer consistent to plain, 
comprehensive language. This has been a co-operative work, 
as well as a compilation of all the literature obtainable, and 
the credit has been given in the text wherever it is due. I 
am greatly indebted to the following persons for notes, 
specimens, excerpts, citations, photographs, or other assist- 
ance : 
Abbott, Alan Gerard. 
Alexander, Chas. P. 
Allen, Dr. Glover M. 
Allison, Andrew. 
Angell, Walter A. 
Arnold, Edward. 
Arnow, Isaac F. 
Atkinson, Geo. HE. 
Atwater, Hl. P. 
Bacon, C. C. 
Bagg, Egbert. 
Bishop, Dr. Louis B. 
Bowles, J. H. 
Brewster, H. BH. 
Brimley, C. C. 
Brimley, H. H. 
Burtch, Verdi. 
Carroll, J. M. 
Christy, Bayard H. 
Colvin, W. 8. 
Comeau, Nap. G. 
Cooke, W. W. 
Crandall, C. W. 
Crispin, Wim. B. 
Currie, John D. 
Davenport, Hlizabeth B. 
