July, 1904 1 
THE CONDOR 
107 
al occasions it has been seen feeding on the refuse that had been thrown out of the 
slaughter houses on the outskirts of the city. It does not seem to fear the presence 
of man and not infrequently are nests found in close vicinity of country dwellings. 
Most of my observations were made in Caldwell county which consists princi- 
pally of rolling prairie, intersected by numerous small streams, the banks of which 
are sparingly fringed with elm and hackberry trees. Here the birds may be found 
throughout the year. The birds are usually in pairs the year round, but sometimes 
during the winter months they can be seen in flocks of four and five. Nesting 
begins in February and early March, at which time both birds can be seen flying 
about together in search of a nesting site. Two and sometimes three broods are 
reared in a season, as nesting begins very early. The earliest recorded date that 
I have, is March i, when I took a beautiful set of three eggs from a new nest in 
Caldwell county. The nest was composed entirely of broom-weeds without a lin- 
ing and was constructed during the months of December, January and the first few 
days of February. The eggs were slightly incubated when found, and I am sure 
— 
COLLECTING EGGS OF THE CARACARA 
I could have procured them a week earlier had I been aware of the fact. This 
would unquestionably have made the earliest nesting date for this section of the 
state. A nest of former years to which is added a few straws, is usually selected 
in which to rear their young and seldom is a new nest found. I think the greater 
number of the new nests are built by birds of the previous year, they being unable 
to procure old ones. Some, however, are built by birds that are molested too often 
and finally give up their old homes in despair. Some birds become so attached to 
their nests that they return each year, even after having been robbed time and 
again. New material is added yearly to the old nest, so that in course of time it 
becomes a huge and massive structure, and when conspicuously situated, which is 
generally the case, can be seen at a great distance. 
One particular nest, that I now call to mind was found about six years ago in 
Caldwell county in a small elm on the crest of a high hill. When first found the 
nest was fully three feet in height and two and one-half feet in breadth. For some 
