FALCONID^ — THE FALCONS. 



211 



sticks somewhat carelessly arranged. It was built upon the top of some 

 tall saw-grass, by which it was supported. This grass was so luxuriant and 

 thick that it bore Mr. IMaynard up as he sought to reach the nest, which did 

 not contain any eggs. On the 24th of March, Mr. Maynard discovered an- 

 other ne.st of this species. It 

 was built iu a liush of the Mag- 

 nolia ghmca, and was about four 

 feet from the water. It con- 

 tained one egg. It was about 

 one foot in diameter, M^as quite 

 flat, and was composed of sticks 

 carelessly arranged, and lined 

 with a few dry heads of the 

 saw-grass. The female was shot, 

 and found to contain an egg 

 nearly ready for exclusion, but 

 as yet unspotted. Other eggs 

 were subsequently procured 

 through the aid of Seminole In- 

 dians, by whom this Hawk is 

 called So-for-funi-har. 



The usual number of eggs laid 

 by this Kite is supposed to be 

 two, as iu three instances no 

 more were found, and this was 



said to be their complement by tlie Indians. It also appeared to be some- 

 what irregular in the time of depositing its eggs. 



This Hawk is described as very sociable in its habits, unlike, in this re- 

 spect, most other birds of prey. Six or eight specimens were frequently 

 seen flying together, at one time, over the mai-shes, or sitting in company on 

 the same bush. In their flight they resemble the common Marsh Hawk, 

 are very unsuspicious, and may be quite readily approached. The dissection 

 of the specimens showed that this bird feeds largely on a species of fresh- 

 water shell {Pomv.s dcpressa of Say). 



The egg of this species taken in Florida by Mr. Maynard is of a rounded 

 oval shape, equally obtuse at either end, and measures 1.70 inches in length 

 by 1.45 in breadtli. The ground-color is a dingy white, irregularly, and in 

 some parts profusely, blotched with groups of markings of a yellowish brown, 

 shading from a light olive-brown to a much duller color, almost to a black 

 hue. These markings in the specimen seen are not grouped around either 

 end, but form a confluent belt around the central portions of the egg. The 

 following description is given by Mr. Maynard of the other specimens taken 

 by him. 



Egg No. 1. Ground-color bluish-white, spotted and blotched everywhere 



Rostrhamus sociabitis (young). 



