a 
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Burns—On BroOAD-wINGED HAwk. 199 
sharp talon in its throat, and a medium-sized snake grasped 
firmly with both feet; yet kite-like, it will sometimes securely 
hold an uninjured beetle, grasshopper or earthworm, in one 
foot bent forward to breast, and resting on the other, delicately 
pick the tidbit to pieces: At times it is said to hunt on the 
wing, circling in the air, upon sighting its quarry it becomes 
stationary for an instant and then descends with considerable 
velocity, thrusting forward its feet with lightning-like rapid- 
ity, securely grappling its victim only when its body follows or 
its legs bend in the rise; unlike the Osprey which seems to 
have the power to clutch with extended leg, its hold is secure 
only upon this movement. Digestion is. comparatively rapid 
and the indigestable parts, consisting of the nicely-cleaned 
bones enveloped in the hair, feathers, etc., are regurgitated in 
the form of pellets before fresh food is taken. 
After going to considerable pains to secure most of the lit- 
erature bearing on the food subject of this species, | find little 
of it available because much can be traced back to the often 
careless statements of the early writers, and some of it un— 
doubtedly original, seems to lack authenticity. For instance, 
after informing us that it very rarely feeds upon small birds, 
one writer includes in a partial inventory of its fare, eight 
species of birds ; a number equal to the examination of at least 
one hundred stomachs though he nowhere states that he ex- 
amined a single one ; moreover, corroborative evidence is lack- 
ing, not a single species given by him appearing in the com- 
piled list I shall presently offer. 
' Dr. Fisher, who has devoted much time to the food habits 
of the Hawks and Owls from an economic standpoint, states 
in regard to this species: “Among the mammals the smaller 
squirrels and wood mice are the most frequently taken, though 
field mice and shrews also are found in the stomach contents. 
During August and September a considerable portion of the 
food consists of the larve of certain large moths which are 
common at this season, and it is the exception not to find their 
remains in the stomach examined. Grasshoppers, crickets and 
beetles are also greedily devoured. The only act which seems 
