THE BROAD-WINGED HAWK. 243 



which soon brings its mate to the spot, and together they will keep up their 

 noise as long as anyone remains in the vicinity. They are very tame in 

 this locality, and frequently when one is started from its nest it will not even 

 leave the tree, but alight on a limb near by. They are gentle in disposition 

 and never attempt to strike at a person, although they are very solicitous 

 about their eggs and young. For days after they have been robbed these 

 birds will utter their complaints when anyone approaches their homes. 



"The only note I have heard them utter is a whistle which sounds almost 

 exactly like that given by the Killdeer Plover (JEgialitis vocifera). They do 

 not seem to decrease in numbers, probably because they do no harm and con- 

 sequently are not much hunted; and their usually quiet habits also render 

 them rather inconspicuous. Both parents assist in incubation and seem to be 

 equally 'solicitous for their eggs and young. 



"I took two nests with eggs during the season of 1890. The first was 

 found May 28, about half a mile south of Wilmurt, New York. It was situ- 

 ated in a crotch of a birch tree, 50 feet above the ground, which was grow- 

 ing on a wooded hillside sloping, back from a small stream. The materials 

 composing it consisted of sticks and hemlock twigs, and # it was lined with 

 hemlock and birch bark. It measured 6 by 9 inches in depth, 15 by 21 

 inches in diameter, and contained two nearly fresh eggs. 



"The second nest was found on May 30, and contained three eggs about 

 three-fourths incubated. It was situated 56 feet above the ground, also in a 

 crotch of a birch tree growing near the bank of West Canada Creek, about 

 1 mile north of Wilmurt, New York. It was composed of sticks and lined 

 with birch bark, hemlock twigs, and feathers from the sitting bird, and it 

 was a trifle smaller than the other nest." 



Mr. J. W. Preston, who has taken a number of the nests of the Broad- 

 winged Hawk in Becker County, Minnesota, writes me as follows: "This 

 Hawk is a common summer resident here, and nests from May 12 to May 

 20. I have found a nest and eggs, however, as late as June 18, probably 

 a second laying after losing the first set. Their nests are usually placed 

 in the crotch of a tree, such as basswood, elm, oak, or larch, from 15 to 45 

 feet from the ground. Occasionally it is placed on a leaning trunk or a 

 large branch, generally in dark woods near lakes. It is a close and com- 

 pactly built structure, composed of small sticks gathered from the ground 

 near by, no long pieces being used. It is lined with small shreds of bark, 

 but as incubation advances, downy feathers dropped from the breast of the 

 bird become a factor in the lining; a green, leafy twig of basswood or 

 poplar is also added occasionally. 



"Their call note is a peevish ' chee-e-d-e' ' prolonged at pleasure and 

 uttered in a high key. They will sit for hours in high dead trees calling 

 to each other during the breeding season, and they are certain to be heard 

 from should anyone come near the nest. In this locality their food consists 

 mostly of the red squirrel. 



