illHiii l 



40 



THE HAWKS AND OWLS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



The following species of mammals and birds were positively identi 

 fled among the stomach contents : 



MAMMALS. 



Tamias quadrivittatus. 

 Tamias striatus. 

 Sigmodon hispidus. 

 Spermopliihis beecheyi. 

 Lepus sylvaticus. 



BIRDS. 

 Bonasa umbellus. 

 Colinus virginianus. 

 Callipepla gambeli. 

 Zen aidura macroura. 

 Colaptes auratus. 

 Sturnella magna neglecta. 

 Quiscalus quiscula. 



Spinus tristis. 



Ammodramus s. savanna. 



Zonotrichia I. intermedia. 



Spizella montieola. 



Spizella pusilla. 



Jim co liyemalis. 



Melospiza fasciata. 



Passer domesticus. 



Pipilo erytJirophtkalmus. 



Helminihophila celata lutescens. 



Sitta c. aculeata. 



Turdus u. swainsoni. 



Turdus a. pallasii. 



Merula migratoria. 



An instance of this Hawk attacking a person was experienced by Mr. 

 0. D. Walcott, in Lewis County, S". Y., August 31, 1886. Mr. Walcott 

 was in a secluded glen busily engaged in collecting fossils, when an indi- 

 vidual alighted near by. Almost instantly the bird pitched at him and 

 was repelled with a geological hammer. Undaunted it made a second 

 and more vigorous attack on the paleontologist, which was met in turn 

 by more decided action on his part, and resulted in the death of the 

 Hawk from a sweeping blow of the hammer. 



The nest is situated indifferently in the tops of the lofty trees or in 

 the second growth within 10 or 15 feet of the ground; most authors 

 state that evergreen trees are principally chosen for the site, though 

 the writer does not remember of ever having found one in this situa- 

 tion. The nest resembles that of the crow somewhat in structure and 

 size, but lacks the finish and compact lining found in that of the latter 

 bird. It is often bulky, the sticks composiug it are quite large, and 

 the lining usually is nothing more than the rough outer bark of the 

 spruce, oak, or hickory. Like the preceding species, it frequently re- 

 models the old nests of other Hawks, crows, or even those of the squir- 

 rels. The male assists in building the new nest or repairing the old 

 one. When the nest is approached or even when the grove containing 

 it is entered, the Hawks will often fly about and scold at the intruder 

 until he leaves. The eggs, which are usually four or five in number, are 

 deposited during the latter part of April to the middle of May, accord- 

 ing to latitude. Even in Texas fresh eggs are found about the first of 

 May, though as an exceptional case Mr. Nehrling found young in April. 



The flight of this species is very rapid, irregular, and usually is car- 

 ried on at no great height from the ground, in all these particulars 

 closely resembling that of the Sharp-shinned Hawk. In the ' Birds of 

 the Northwest ? Dr. Coues mentions three birds of this species which he 

 saw at a ranch in Arizona. They were perfectly tame, and at the time 

 of his visit were allowed full liberty to go where they pleased, and al- 

 ways returned to their owner at the sound of his whistle. 



