BIRDS OF PREY 195 



"Of 65 stomachs examined, 2 contained small birds; 

 15, mice; 13, other mammals; 30, insects." (Fisher.) 



THE FERRUGINOUS ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK* 



The pose of the larger hawks as they perch upon the 

 bare limb of a large tree is wonderfully beautiful. Not 

 less attractive is their flight as they gracefully sail high 

 in the air or move forward by measured strokes of their 

 strong wings. The graceful movements of these birds 

 seem all the more interesting now that it is known that 

 nearly all the hawks are a positive benefit to mankind. 

 Especially is this true of the one we illustrate. It is the 

 Ferruginous Rough-leg of western North America. Its 

 range extends from the Saskatchewan southward into north- 

 ern Mexico, and from the Pacific Coast eastward across the 

 Great Plains and in the South to Texas. 



This large and handsome hawk is an inhabitant of the 

 prairie country west of the Mississippi River, where it finds 

 an abundant supply of the smaller rodents which form its 

 chief article of diet. In fact, it feeds to such an extent on 

 the ground squirrels that in many localities it is called the 

 Squirrel Hawk. To a limited extent it also feeds upon 

 grasshoppers and other insects, but never attacks birds. 



" The nest is usually built in a tree at no great distance 

 above the ground, but when trees are not available it is 

 placed on the shelves of some of the earth cliffs which 

 abound in certain parts of the West. Like that of the 

 other large hawks, it is composed of good-sized sticks and 

 coarse herbage of one kind or another, and is lined with 



