leaves in the lining; placed
in the top of a live oak sapling, 20 feet from the ground. Collector, J.
A. Singley.

330. EVERGLADE KITE. _Rostrhamus sociabilis._

Range.--South America, north to southern Florida and Mexico.

This peculiar species has a long, slender, curved bill, blackish
plumage, with white rump and bases of outer tail feather. They feed
largely upon snails, both land and water varieties. They nest at a low
elevation in bushes or under brush, often over the water. The nests are
of sticks, weeds and leaves. The three eggs are light greenish white,
spotted and splashed with chestnut brown. Size, 1.70 x 1.30. Nest in a
custard apple tree, 6 feet from the ground, built of twigs, lined with
small vine stems and willow leaves.

[Illustration 204: White-tailed Kite. Mississippi Kite.]
[Illustration: Bluish white.]
[Illustration: Pale greenish white.]
[Illustration: Everglade Kite.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]

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[Illustration 205: NEST AND EGGS OF MARSH HAWK.]

Page 204

331. MARSH HAWK. _Circus hudsonius._

Range.--Whole of North America, very abundant in all sections.

The adult of this species is very light colored, and young birds of the
first two years have a reddish brown coloration; in both plumages the
species is easily identified by the white patch on the rump. They are,
almost exclusively frequenters of fields and marshes, where they can
most often be seen, towards dusk, swooping in broad curves near the
ground, watching for field mice, which form the larger portion of their
diet. Their nests are made in swampy ground, often in the middle of a
large marsh, being placed on the ground in the centre of a hummock or
clump of grass; it is generally well lined with grasses and often
rushes. They lay from four to seven pale bluish white eggs, generally
unmarked; size 1.80 x 1.40.

332. SHARP-SHINNED HAWK. _Accipiter velox._

Range.--Whole of North America, wintering in the United States and
southward; breeds throughout its range, but most abundantly in northern
United States and northward. This is one of the smallest of the hawks
and in the adult plumage is a beautiful species, being barred below with
light brown, and having a bluish slate back. It is a very spirited and
daring bird and is one of the most destructive to small birds and young
chickens. Its nest is a rude and sometimes very frail platform of twigs
and leaves placed against the trunk of the tree at any heigh