86 BIRDS OF A MAE Y LAND FARM. 



cussed (see pp. 50-55). A stomach of each of the following hawks was 

 examined: Marsh hawk, red-shouldered hawk, and broad- winged 

 hawk. The first contained a meadow mouse; the second, part of a 

 crayfish and 2 frogs; and the third, 2 beetles — a May-beetle {Lachnos- 

 ternci) and a tumblebug {Geotrupes splendidus) — part of a meadow 

 mouse, and the remains of 4 short- tailed shrews and a snake {Storeria). 



A young broad-winged hawk, old enough to fly, which was kept for 

 several weeks, exhibited interesting feeding habits. When a live 

 mouse was placed in the cage, the hawk pounced on it with both feet, 

 sinking its talons into the mouse's vitals, but not once using its beak 

 until after the death struggle. As soon as the mouse had been struck 

 the hawk uttered continual high-keyed shrieks, spread its wings and 

 tail, and pressed them against the ground so as to make an inclosure 

 or tent, the opening of which it guarded with its beak. No such 

 spreading of the wings and tail took place when the prey consisted of 

 big moths, grasshoppers, or beetles. When a three-quarters-grown 

 English sparrow was placed in the cage the hawk struck it a blow with 

 one foot, clutching and killing it instanth^. Still gripping the spar- 

 row, it pulled the head ofi' with its beak and swallowed it. Next it 

 ripped open the bod}^ cavity and ate the whole digestive tract at one 

 mouthful. Then, beginning with one leg, it finished the sparrow in 

 four more mouth fuls. 



The sparrow hawk is the most useful destroyer of insect pests 

 (grasshoppers), whi^e the marsh hawk is the most valuable enenw of 

 injurious rodents. During the fall the latter may be seen skimming 

 over the fields, pouncing upon meadow mice and remaining for some 

 time in the grass eating its prey. This habit has made it an easy 

 mark for the farmers at Marshall Hall, who, on seeing it drop into 

 the grass to feed, have been accustomed to run, often several hundred 

 yards, and shoot it as it rises. 



OWLS. 



Three short-eared owls {Asio accij>itr{niis) which were killed during 

 November, 1899, 1901, and 1902, contained nothing but meadow mice. 



The barred owl {Syrniiim varium) occurs at Marshall Hall, but is 

 not common. 



On May 30, 1892, Mr. E. A. Preble, of the Biological Survey, col- 

 lected 3 young and 2 adult screech owls {Megascoj^s asio) and a great 

 horned owl (Bubo virghuamis) near the mouth of the calamus swamp 

 on the Bryan farm. Screech owls are of much economic value, owing 

 to the fact that they feed largely on insects and do not destroy birds 

 or poultry. The stomachs of those taken by Mr. Preble contained 

 May-beetles and lizards. In the stomach of the great horned owl 

 were the remains, of several dung-beetles, insects of neutral effect on 

 agriculture. As a rule, this bird takes few insects of any kind and is 

 ver}^ injurious to poultry. 



