fl. C. OBERHOLSER. Itt 
Raw beef and veal formed the principal element of their 
diet, but animal food of any description was readily ac- 
cepted. Birds given them were eaten piecemeal and de- 
voured, all but a few of the larger feathers. They much 
preferred fresh to stale meat, and took the latter only when 
pressed by hunger. But the skinned carcasses of two Kill- 
deers, a Rose-breasted Grosbeak and a Scarlet Tanager, 
which were in an advanced stage of decomposition, were 
eaten without hesitation. Vegetable food of all kinds was 
invariably refused. If fat adhered in any considerable 
quantity to the beef given them, they carefully removed all 
the flesh and left the fat uneaten, though to a small amount 
they took no exception. Except when unusually hungry 
they disliked being observed while eating, and much care- 
ful manceuvering was often necessary to obtain opportunity 
to watch them while thus engaged. They were fed usually 
every day, four or five ounces of flesh constituting their 
ordinary rations. Sometimes, however, they happened to 
miss their daily meal, a neglect which they always resented 
by loud cries, continued throughout much of the day. A 
two or three days’ fast, however, did not seem to cause them 
inconvenience, neither to much affect their appetites, for 
they were at all times great gourmands, never allowing any- 
thing edible to remain two hours in the cage unconsumed. 
Their food was given in comparatively large pieces, which 
holding sometimes with one foot, sometimes with both, they 
would tear and devour. Their actions while thus engaged 
were at times quite ludicrous, for occasionally by under- 
estimation of their own strength, or a miscalculation of the 
toughness of the meat, their efforts would end in a most un- 
ceremonious tumble. 
Sometimes, too, both of the Hawks would struggle for pos- 
session of the same morsel; wings, tails and claws being 
brought into requisition until either it was divided or the 
male gave up his hold; for these encounters nearly always 
resulted in favor of the female, either by reason of her own 
