The Birds of El Paso County, Colorado SOI 



eggs are laid, and also over newly laid eggs. The object of this 

 gives rise to some speculation, but we conclude that it is for 

 the purpose of disguise or concealment. One thing that sup- 

 ports this view is that the leaves are found quite fresh as 

 though the bird had plucked the twigs on sighting the in- 

 truder. 



Young birds are plentiful the latter half of July, but soon 

 disappear with the adults. Nearly all Colorado breeding birds 

 are of normal coloration but Aiken found a pair in the melanis- 

 tic phase breeding at Resolis, Elbert County, May 26, 1899, 

 described in his notes as "a dark chocolate colored pair, one 

 darker than its mate." He saw one believed to be a migrant 

 near Calhan August 30, 1907. A notable flight of melanistic 

 hawks of this species took place in 1901. Following fair mild 

 weather during February snowstorms prevailed durmg the 

 forepart of March. On the morning of the eleventh of that 

 month snow was quietly falling and the sun was obscured by a 

 snow cloud. Word came to Aiken that ten dark-colored hawks 

 were in the shade trees on Cascade Avenue near St. Vrain 

 Street, and that a boy was shooting at them with a flobert 

 rifle. Hastening to the locality indicated four hawks were seen 

 perching in trees and five which had been killed by the young 

 shooter were secured for preservation. They varied in general 

 coloration from umber brown to umber black according to age 

 and sex. Two of these specimens now in the Aiken Collection 

 at Colorado College may be more particularly described : 



No. 4507 (Orig. No.). Male. Above dark umber; below 

 gray umber shaded with umber brown. Under wing coverts 

 dark rufous. Under tail coverts rufous barred with paler and 

 v/hitish. Length 18.5 ins. ; Extent 46 ins. ; Wing 14.5 ins. ; 

 Tail 7.8 ins. 



No. 4508 (Orig. No.). Female. Umber black above and 

 below. Under wing coverts paler, spotted with white. Under 

 tail coverts white, barred with brown; rufous shades almost 



