58 LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



ius indicate the site of a nest which otherwise might have been over- 

 >oked. * * * The parent birds usually denote the proximity of a nest 

 y sailing high in the air over the locality. Occasionally a nest may be 

 iscovered in an unexpected location. I found one, some 3 or 4 miles from 

 le mouth of the Kotsoak River, on a grassy ledge, near the top of the 

 ide of a short but deep ravine. The nest was easily approached from the 

 )p without other labor than that of walking down to it. The positions 

 f nests of various birds of prey were often a matter of wonder to me how 

 ley escaped the ravages of foxes and other prowlers. * * * At other 

 mes the nest is placed in a most inaccessible spot. I thought these were 

 robably the nests of birds which may have been more persecuted than 

 thers &ad had not profited by experience. At no time did I observe any- 

 ling like fierceness exhibited by these birds, either when wounded or when 

 leir nest was approached. The male can seldom be secured near the nest, 

 r hile the female -is sometimes heedless of distance, although rarely approach- 

 es very near." 



In regard to the nesting sites most frequently made use of in the Fur 

 !ountry, Mr. R. MacFarlane's experience was quite different, showing that the 

 esting habits of this, as well as of many other species, differ greatly in 

 laces, the birds adapting themselves to the immediate surroundings. Out of 

 le fifty-eight nests found by him, forty-six were placed in trees, usually 

 ines, and at an average height of about 20 feet from the ground. The 

 3maining twelve were built on the edges of steep cliffs of shaly mud, on the 

 anks of creeks, rivers, or lakes. Such nests as were found in trees were 

 sually placed in a crotch not far from the top, composed of sticks and 

 r armly lined with dry grasses, down, and feathers. Those on cliffs were 

 milarly constructed, but usually with a smaller base of sticks and better lined. 



The eggs vary from two to five in number, usually three or four, and 

 re deposited at intervals of two or three days, and were often found in 

 ifferent stages of incubation. With but few exceptions, most of Mr. R. 

 [acFarlane's specimens were found during the month of June. The earliest 

 ate on which he took eggs of this species, according to the records here, 

 'as on May 23. Mr. L. M. Turner took a set on May 24, evidently not 

 omplete, and the remainder in June. The middle of June seems to be the 

 roper time to look for full sets. 



Incubation lasts about four weeks, and by the middle of July most of 

 le young are hatched and they leave the nest about the beginning of Sep- 

 ^mber. According to Mr. Turner, the young appear to be able to take care 

 f themselves as soon as they leave the nest. He says the Eskimo apply 

 le name of "Kin-wi-yuk" (in imitation of its notes) to this species, and that 

 le people of Labrador term it the "Squalling Hawk," from the noise it makes 

 r hen alarmed. 



But one brood is raised in a season. The eggs of the American Rough- 

 sgged Hawk vary greatly in size as well as in shape. Some are ovate, 



