Polk County news-gazette. (Benton, Tenn.) 190?-191?, 1913-12-04

hawks during the nesting season. anu uie0o'e
the fact, new to science, that they prey upon
hird, &c weu as on mammals Over the whole
course of his observations until the young ptros
had flown prairie dogs were found largely TO OK
coed all other Diet but until the nesthhss "ee
about two weeks old, their food consisted pairs
of meadowlarks (Sturnella neglec'al. "n
very little food was found in the nest taxing ln'o
consideration the frequent visits paid to IT, there
were seen altogether nine prairie dogs, one eoV
ton.tail rabbit two bull snakes Zone 81 lnches
long) and some remains of sharptalled grouse
and meadowlarks On two separate occasions'
while Mr. FELTON, kept watch near the eyre 'ho
wary female frequently passed and repasseo oVei-
head with meadowlark in her talons as suose
ouently identified The bill of fare at all lour
eyries was similar and meadowlarks as demon
strated nv their down and feathers were pro
yided for the nestlngs. The following INTEREST
ing collection of remnants was seen at one nest
Four prairie dog skulls, the skeletons oi t"o
hull snakes Zone of them being very large)' the
leg of a sharptailed grouse, the wing ap9 scaPu-
lore oP a magpie and the primaries of a meadow
lork Grouse and maybe remains were not founu
until July II and 81, and were proved py lhe
feathers to belong to young birds. 10 the pest "
NV knowledge, this species never attenlp's "
take poultry of any kind, and my own opsei va
tions are strongly confirmed by Mr.. w. r. sulii-
49,, Gov 1e wears manager of Mr.. Miners beau
tiful Square Butte ranch, where these hawks nave
always been protected on account OF the humei-
ous gophers (Thomomys) which they destroy.
AS above narrated, several pair breed ANNUALLY
upon the ranch and constantly hying around
the buildings yet no chickens have ever peeh
molested Mr. Sullivan, who is close observer
Of nature considers that, after the young can
hy in the fall these hawks subsist chleny upon
ponhers and he has described TO me their meth
DDS of capturing them as follows nave
watched the hawks often through glasses IN ouI
alfalfa field after the first crop has been taken OH
The pocket gophers get pretty busy tunheiins'
and rushing all the loose damp earth up IN pies
on the surface The hawks fly Slowly over the
field until they discover fresh pile OF damp
earth Here they will alight softly, and walt TOT
the gopher to push close to the surface Ahey
will then spread their wings and, rising rev
feet in the air. come down stin-legged into the
loose earth when the gopher Is transnxeo ana
brought out have them eat the gopher
where caught and at other times carry II away
In the summer OF 1903 about an acre or ground
NJ the Square Butte ranch was covered with piles
of building material, such as lumber, posts and
heavy shed timbers, which had been collected
tbere the previous year Numbers of cotton-tail
rabbits lived under these piles, and provided an
occasional meal both for the hawks and for the
ranch cat which was female tabby On q
certain day Mr. Miner (owner of the ranch) hap
nened to be engaged in conversation with MT
sullivan near pile of posts upon winch the
cat was basking in the sun with one eye open
for chance rabbit, as usual ferrusinous