BurNS—On BROAD-WINGED HAWK. 275 
when one big fellow caught her by the leg, she backed away, 
and did not appear anxious to risk another nip. The male would 
not come ‘down to feed. The next day the female refused for 
the first time to take food from my hands, and the following 
day began to fly about. When 37 days old, just before a thun- 
der storm, both retired to the shelter of a box and huddled to- 
gether in a crouching position, timidly peeped their fears ; but 
two days later during a very heavy shower I observed both 
now, nearly of a size, exposed to the full force of the storm. 
They drooped their spread wings forward slightly above the 
level of their backs at times, seeming to enjoy the bath. When 
4() days old both were very wild and made constant attempts to 
escape thrugh the wire enclosure. This is the age of departure 
from the home nest. The next two days both birds clawed me 
fiercely, whistling excitedly, and would not touch food until 
I departed. When 46 days old the female which has at last 
outgrown the male, swooped down, snatched a piece of meat 
and carried it to a favorite perch ;and by another week or two, 
learned to whistle insistantly when hungry, until fed; a long 
drawn harsh shrilling che-e-e-e-e-the-c. My first and in some 
respects most interesting captive was taken when at the age 
of 29 days. It flew from the nest when | ascended but unable 
to sustain flight, came down on the banks ofia creek below and 
was captured aiter it had turned upon its back and fought 
savagely, uttering a repeated Chic-chic-chic. It proved to he 
a female. It refused to eat at first. I had to force food down 
its throat, but it rapidly responded to kind treatment and by 
the next day perched upon my hand. It made several at- 
tempts to swallow a mouse whole when 35 days old, then 
turned its back to me, blanketed its prey with spread wings 
and tail, for the first time used its beak in conjunction with 
talons to tear and feed; and in consequence grew fierce and 
wild over night since it could help itself, and pounced upon 
a dead mouse and various sparrows with great gusto. When 
39 days old it eyed live and fully fledged English sparrows 
before striking with right foot, and listened momentarily to 
their cries. This was its first kill and attempt to pluck feathers 
