THE NIDOLOGIST 73 
for nesting purposes, but in this vicinity the 
Mergansers appear to prefer the cliffs. 
Although this is the only nest found in 1895, I 
am reasonably certain that three pairs nested in 
the cliffs within half a mile of each other. In 
1894 I found a nest, also in the rocks, but was 
unable to get to it. Frep H. ANpRus. 
Elkton, Ore. 
Se 
Breeding Habits of the Broad= 
winged Hawk. 
BY FRANK L. BURNS. 
VER since Alexander Wilson shot the 
type specimen on the banks of the 
Schuylkill, Buteo latissimus has received 
more or less attention from American Ornithol- 
ogists, and yet of the Hawks of general distribu- 
tion in northeastern United States, this species 
may be classed with those whose nesting habits 
are the least understood. In these days of 
numerous clever and persistent collectors, and 
the excellent opportunities afforded them of 
recording their notes, it is surprising that so 
little has appeared in relation to this the most 
interesting of all our local Hawks. 
At this place they usually appear early in 
April, and soon after begin search for their 
summer quarters, which, as it is with all the fam- 
ily, is confined to the section formerly occupied 
by them, unless repeatedly disturbed. At this 
time they are somewhat noisy, flying about 
from tree to tree, or lazily skimming through 
the air just above the tree tops, uttering a fre- 
quent metallic “chu-e-e chu-e-e.” When the 
location has been decided upon this gives way 
A HYENA TRAP. 
(See page 77.) 
to absolute silence, save now and then, at long 
intervals, a plaintive and metallic whistling- 
scream of ‘“che-wee,”’ or “ che-wee-e-e,”” so 
subdued that the average person would attribute 
it to the Wood Pewee, if indeed he noticed it 
at all. It has been intimated that this note re- 
sembles that of the latter bird, but this is not 
strictly accurate, as I have had ample oppor- 
tunities to compare them. ‘The first syllable of 
the Wood Pewee is different, although the last 
syllable is the same and.often uttered with 
the falling inflection peculiar to the Broad- 
wing, yet it lacks the penetration of the latter. 
As I said, this note is uttered only occasionally, 
so that one unfamiliar with their habits would 
conclude that they had deserted their usual 
haunts. 
A medium-sized chestnut tree in close prox- 
imity to an abandoned or rarely used cart road 
appears to be the favorite location, and in- 
variably an old nest, usually that of a Crow, and 
the older and more disreputable the better it 
seems to suit them, is selected. This goes 
through a slight remodeling process; a few oak 
and chestnut twigs gathered from the ground 
are placed on top with little attempt at art, 
and this, with ahandful of bits of rough chest- 
nut bark by the way of lining, completes the 
nest, with the exception of a few green leaves, 
which are added after the eggs are deposited 
and incubation has begun. Possibly this is 
intended to cover the eggs, or at least render 
them inconspicuous at such times as the parent 
takes her airing. The late Harry K. Jamison 
once informed me that I was the only collector 
he had met who, besides himself, had noticed 
the fragments of rough chestnut bark in the 
nest of this species, al- 
though it is a well- 
known trait of Occepiter 
cooper. 
An invariable sign of 
incubation is the 
down feathers sticking 
about the nest, and I 
have found quill feath- 
ers on the ground under 
the nest before the set 
was completed. 
Complete sets may 
be reasonably looked 
for during the first 
week in May. Inone 
instance where three 
eggs constituted the 
set, I found that the 
second and third eggs 
were deposited on the 
third days after the 
previous ones had been 
