2(1 
TIIR COXDOR 
Vol. XVI 
lieing- able to take negatives from a vertical position only, I put three of the 
young hawks in a basket strapped on my hack, descended to the ground with 
them, placed them on a platform of twigs on a large flat rock near the edge of 
the thicket, ami made several exposures of them nearly life-size, 'hhe mother 
bird uttered a few low cries when she missed the young from the nest, hut made 
no further fuss. 
After returning the young to the nest I retired about twenty-five yards up 
the hillside wliere I could observe the nest with field glasses. The male hawk had 
been away for a short time and when he returned the female flew to the opposite 
edge of the thicket to meet liim, uttering low cries, and soon returned to the nest. 
She seemed aware of my presence and kept up a constant scolding for some time. 
1‘resentlv 1 noticed her begin to tear strips of meat from some small mammal or 
14. Four of the Vouxc ,Sh.\rp-shinneu Hawks as Photographed July 19 on a 
PLATFORM OF TWIGS NEAR THE NESTING TREE; NOTE FEATHER-DEVELOP.MENT 
HERE SHOWN, AT AGES OF 1,5, 16 AND 17 DAYS 
bird she was holding down with one foot, and feed them to the young. 
1 ascended the tree as quickly as I could to determine if possible the nature of 
the food, and on reaching the nest found the leg of a young' bir,l, all that was left. 
1 offered it to one of the young hawks and it was gulped down whole, claws ami 
all. I descended again and remained hidden for a long time, hut not lieing able 
to oliscrve anv further feeding of the young I returned home. 
Inly if) 1 visited the nest late in the afternoon. Peering over the edge I 
thought one of the young hawks dead, hut it ha]i])encd that the three larger birds 
were reposing on the bodies of the two smaller ones. The largest hawk, the first 
one hatclied. resented any handling by sciuaring hack with wings outstretched and 
striking quite a lilow witli its liill at my hand. 
