88 THE HAWKS AND OWLS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



Mr. H. W. Henshaw gives tlie following relative to the food of this 

 species: "Utah. Lake and the surrounding marshes attract multitudes 

 of water fowl; and this undoubtedly explains in part the abundance 

 of hawks at this season, since wounded and disabled ducks must form 

 no inconsiderable part of their food. In its manner of hunting it much 

 resembles the foregoing species [Squirrel Hawk], and it subsists to 

 a great extent upon mice, which are very numerous in the rushes. 

 In the stomachs of every individual captured [eleven in number] were 

 found the remains of these little animals." (Explor. West of the 100th 

 Merid., Wheeler, vol. v, 1875, p. 426.) 



The examination of such a considerable number of specimens from a 

 locality in which multitudes of ducks occur, and the finding of nothing 

 but the remains of mice is quite conclusive evidence that the former 

 is not their favorite food. Eecently Mr. Henshaw informed the writer 

 that the above statement relative to this hawk feeding on water fowl 

 was based on reports of gunners, which he now believes to be incorrect. 

 Besides lemmings and meadow mice the Bough-leg feeds at times quite 

 extensively on other species of mice, ground squirrels, moles, shrews, 

 and even rabbits. Oapt. Bendire states that while it remains at Camp 

 Harney, Oregon, its principal food consists of cotton-tail rabbits. 



Among the earlier writers, Wilson gives the following about its food: 

 " This handsome species notwithstanding its formidable size and ap- 

 pearance, spends the chief part of the winter among our low swamps 

 and meadows, watching for mice, frogs, lame ducks, and other inglori- 

 ous game." Audubon says: " It feeds principally on moles, mice, and 

 other small quadrupeds, and never attacks ducks on the wing, although 

 now and then it pursues a wounded one." Niittall gives mice, moles, 

 and frogs as its food and quotes Pennant as authority for the statement 

 that it feeds on ducks. 



We find very little information as to whether the Bough-leg feeds 

 extensively on insects, or of the kinds which it devours. Prof. Samuel 

 Aughey found the remains of seventy insects besides other food in the 

 stomach of a specimen shot in Nebraska in September. It is presumable 

 that like the Buteos it at times feeds extensively on grasshoppers, 

 crickets, and beetles. It is credited with feeding on snakes, lizards, 

 frogs, and toads, though the writer has never found the remains of any 

 of these animals in the stomachs examined, and finds but a few general 

 remarks on the subject in the books. 



Although one of the largest hawks, the Bough-leg is undoubtedly one 

 of the most harmless, so far as molesting poultry and game is concerned. 

 Pennant is chiefly accountable for any prejudice that may be felt 

 against the bird, for he asserted that it fed largely on ducks, and re- 

 marked that it " sits on a rock and watching their rising, when it 

 instantly strikes at them." This statement has been copied by various 

 authors, especially the earlier ones, until now there are many people 

 who really believe it. The writer has yet to meet anyone who has 



