BIRDS OF PREY 147 



bones and hair of the smaller quadrupeds ; also a number 

 of pellets ejected by the old birds. I am certain that 

 both birds occupy the nesting cavity at night, for there 

 was a depression in the end of the cavity which showed 

 signs of being occupied by one of the birds. 



"Thanest contained five eggs, rather light in color for 

 this species. They have a yellowish brown appearance, 

 the color being almost solid but darker about the larger 

 ends." 



It is a matter of regret that Mr. Howard gives us no 

 record of how the adults conducted themselves during 

 the time they were being robbed ; also, that he did not 

 make a study of the feeding and nesting habits of the 

 birds with regard to incubation and care of the young, 

 as this is a field open for just such daring observers and 

 one where good work is needed. 



337 b. WESTERN RED-TAILED HAWK. — Ba^eo 



horealis calurus. 



Family: The Falcons, Hawks, Eagles, etc. 



Length: Male 19.00-22.50 ; female 23.00-25.00. 



Adults : Varying from light grayish brown to uniform dark sooty brown ; 

 under parts white or buffy, with broad brown streaks on throat, belly, 

 and sides ; tail bright reddish brown in any phase, crossed by one or 

 more black bars. In the dark extreme the entire plumage except the 

 red tail is a dark sooty brown. 



Voung: Darker throughout, and more heavily spotted; tail grayish 

 brown, barred with black bands. 



Geographical Distribviion: Western North America, east to Rocky 

 Mountains, south to Mexico. 



Breeding Range : Almost throughout the State of California. 



Breeding Season : March, April, and May. 



