108 THE HAWKS AND OWLS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



Speaking of the food of this bird in Florida, Mr. W. E. D. Scott says : 

 "As observed here, this Hawk preys almost exclusively on the Coot 

 (Fulica Americana) which occurred in enormous flocks on both lake 

 and river." (Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, vol. vi, 1881, p. 17.) 



The Duck Hawk is one of the few birds of prey in whose favor little 

 can be said. It is fortunate for the poultry-raisers that the species is 

 comparatively rare throughout our country, and that it is restricted to 

 a large extent to the shores of the ocean and inland bodies of water. 

 The following species of birds were positively identified among the 

 stomach contents: Anas cyanoptera, Callipepla gambeli, Zenaidura ma- 

 croura, Harporhynchus crissalis, Turclus aliciw, Galeoscoptes carolinensis, 

 and Mernla migratoria. 



Its flight is marvelously rapid, and it is able to overtake the swift- 

 winged ducks with comparative ease. At times it is difficult to follow 

 with the eye its various movements while in pursuit of its prey. 



The nest is placed on some ledge or crag which projects from the 

 surface of a rocky wall or cliff, in one of the clefts on the face of a l cut 

 bank/ or more rarely in the eroded cavities in the tops of tall trees. 

 The nesting site on the cliffs is often inaccessible, being on a ledge far 

 above the base and under an overhanging portion which prevents ap- 

 proach from above. Even in the far north the eggs are deposited quite 

 commonly on the bare rocks, while in other instances a rude nest is 

 formed of sticks and accidental material which has collected ou the 

 shelf, mixed with the fur and feathers of the victims. The holes in the 

 giant sycamores in which Col. Goss and Mr. Eidgway fouud eggs, con- 

 tained no nesting material except pieces of rotteu wood which had falleu 

 from the sides of the cavities. The Duck Hawk mates in February in 

 most parts of the United States, and at such times is noisy, uttering at 

 short intervals its peculiar note. 



The eggs, which are from two to four in number, are deposited early in 

 April, except in the far north, where their deposition is three weeks or 

 a month later. The young are nearly fully fledged in Connecticut by 

 the middle of June, and from Labrador northward not until a month 

 later. 



A pair of birds become very much attached to a locality and rear 

 their young in the same place for a long series of years. This Falcon is 

 an inhabitant of the more open country in the vicinity of the sea, the 

 larger rivers, and inland bodies of water, and in such localities extends 

 its range northward to beyond the limit of trees. It is rare on the dry 

 plains of the West, which is the chosen home of the Prairie Falcon. 



When taken young it, like the Old World representative, can be easily 

 tamed and becomes much attached to its keeper. In the time of falconry 

 the Peregrine Falcon was highly prized and was considered inferior to 

 none except the White G-yrfalcon. It is a solitary species except during 

 the breeding season, though in a rich hunting ground two or more may 

 be found together, drawn there by the abundance of food. It is a bold, 



