THE FERRUGINOUS ROUGH-LEG. 261 



ing of these nests solved the mystery; the annual prairie fires had burned 

 the rest of the nest, and left the bones as placed by the bird. Three of 

 the sets found contained three eggs each, the other one four. From reli- 

 able information received, I think sets of four eggs are common with this 

 species. Some of these nests, besides being lined with weed stalks and dry 

 grasses, contained also small pieces of dry turf, which the birds must have 

 pulled or dug up with a great deal of labor, as the sod was very tough. 

 The buffalo ribs were used in lieu of sticks, there being no timber of any 

 consequence in the Coteau Hills, where I found them breeding, within a dis- 

 tance of 15 miles. The only trees of any size in that country are found 

 along the borders of the large streams. The settlers call this bird the Eagle 

 Hawk; they were so very wild, I could not get within rifle shot of them in 

 the open, and it was only by hiding in a washout that we were able to get 

 specimens for identification." 



In eastern Colorado, and in other localities as well, the Ferruginous Rough- 

 leg builds in trees, where such are available. Mr. F. M. Dille, of Greeley, 

 Colorado, found one of their nets on Lone Creek, and describes it as follows: 

 "When we located our ranch on this creek, we noticed in a cotton wood tree 

 about 100 yards from the tent an immense nest, and in a few days a large pair 

 of these Hawks took possession. They did not mind our presence at all, and, 

 with the aid of a good field glass, I watched the pair pretty closely. The nest 

 was lined with immense tufts of dry grass, roots and all, and an egg was laid on 

 Monday, April 13. The male bird never visited the nest after this, but would 

 sit out upon the prairie catching gophers, etc., which were turned over to the 

 female. I visited it again while they were away, on Tuesday, and found 

 three or four gopher heads and tails in it, but no more eggs. This egg 

 resembled a Fish Hawk's egg very much, having a light blue background with 

 a rich rufous brown and chocolate markings, blotched all over, and measured 

 2.50 by 1.95 inches (equal to 63.5 by 49.5 millimetres). Another egg was 

 laid on Wednesday afternoon, and this was considerably lighter and less 

 marked than the first. What blotches it had were gathered around the smaller 

 end, and ran back in long lines. 



"These birds did not attempt to drive me off while I was up the tree, and 

 I waited till Monday, the 20th, for another egg, but thinking that the set was 

 complete, and wishing to obtain fresh eggs, I took the set on the afternoon of 

 the 20th. 



"I thought at first that the bird was a Fish Hawk, so I shot the female in 

 order to make sure. In the bird's fall a large egg about to be laid was broken, 

 the shell of which was clear sky blue, and there were ten or twelve distinct 

 eggs of all sizes in the Hawk, tliree of them quite large. The nest was com- 

 posed of dry limbs and sticks, some as large as broomsticks. It was 3 feet in 

 diameter and about 2 feet deep, situated about 12 feet from the ground." 1 



1 Young OSlogist, 1885, pp. 44, 45. 



