90 



ORNITHOLOGIST 



[Vol. 14:-No. 6 



The nest contained two e^gs, whicli were 

 partly incubated, showing that tlic number 

 was complete — another wise provision for a 

 cold climate, as the bird would have difficulty 

 in covering a larger number. 



The eggs (which were a little larger and 

 about the same shape as those of the Common 

 Snowbird, Junco hyemaUs) were of a greenish 

 tint. One of them is covered with small (al- 

 most indistinct) light brown spots, the other 

 with the large end only covered with larger 

 dark brown irregular shaped spots. The eggs 

 were alike in size but very different in mark- 

 ing. 



The nest differed from that of the White- 

 winged Crossbill in being deeper and not 

 having any twigs woven in it. There were a 

 few feathers, apparently from the females, 

 about both nests, but not any used in their 

 construction or lining. The nest of the Amer- 

 ican Crossbill was admirably cimcealed, but 

 that of the White-winged was easily discovered. 

 There was no mud or clay of any kind about 

 either nest. Thomas J. Egan. 



Halifax, N.S. 



Nesting of the White-tailed Kite. 



On February 19, 188S), I took a walk into the 

 country near San .Jose to see if the White-tailed 

 Kite (Elanus leucuriis) had yet arrived from 

 the south. 



On approaching near a live-oak where a pair 

 of Kites have for years been accustomed to 

 nest, I was pleased to see one of the beautiful 

 birds flying toward the tree, with what ap- 

 peared to be a small stick in the claws. It 

 was followed by its mate, and on reaching an 

 oak next to the tree containing the old nest 

 they hovered prettily for a moment, just as a 

 Sparrow Hawk might do, then continued their 

 graceful flight, with many playful evolutions, 

 to a black oak, where they settled quietly side 

 by side. 



In a few moments one of the birds flew over 

 to the top of the live-oak and, I suppose, de- 

 posited the stick on the old nest. It was soon 

 afterward joined by the other and botli birds 

 appeared very unsuspecting, for on the dis- 

 charge of a rifle near by they only flew oft" a 

 short distance, uttering their plaintive whistle 

 (which is very much like that of the Western 

 Meadow Lark), and returned to perch once 

 more on the leafless black-oak. Some China- 

 men were working and talking not a hundred 

 yards away but the Kites seemed altogether 

 indifferent to their presence, and I might 



easily have shot one or both of the 

 birds. 



This species of Kite is far from common, 

 and is, I believe, becoming rarei*. It is not a 

 matter for wonder that this is so: its conspicu- 

 ous and pleasing plumage, with its singular 

 trust in the kindness of man, mak<!s it the easy 

 prey of every careless farmer and designing 

 pot-hunter. 



The White-tailed Kite is said to be found in 

 numbers in the Santa Clara valley, but from 

 careful observation over much of its area I 

 have found but one pair nesting at any material 

 distance from San Jose, and I venture to assert 

 that there are not more than four pairs this 

 year breeding within a radius of seven miles 

 of that city. 



To determine if this pair were really build- 

 ing so early, I climbed to the nest (not an easy 

 task without irons) and looking into the slight 

 structure, framed in among the topmost 

 branches, I was surprised to see that it had 

 been built up several inches with oak sticks 

 and stubble. I counted on securing their set 

 of eggs, but when I visited the nest again on 

 March 7th, I met with only disappointment. 

 The nest was finished, but contained no eggs, 

 and the Kites were gone. As they were still 

 absent when I returned a few days later I con- 

 cluded that the birds had been shot or else the 

 eggs taken by some other egg appropriator. 



Two days later, on March 'Jth, I visited 



another nest, where I took a late set of four 



eggs in May of last year, and I was fortunate 



this time. I covild see as I came up that the 



nest had been built up and after throwing 



several pieces of clods close to it, off fluttered 



the Kite and flew over to watch me from a 



neighboring sycamore, while I was not less 



agitated. The nest was constructed as usual 



and was about thirty-five feet from the ground 



in the topmost branches of a live-oak. I was 



enabled to reach my hand into the nest by 



standing on tiptoe and resting my left foot on 



a branch about on a level with my waist. My 



position was awkward, but what moment more 



ecstatic than when I rested my finger-tips on 



four beautiful eggs in the nest. 



FL R. Taylor. 

 College Park, Cal. 



Capturing a Great Horned Owl. 



On May 4, 1888, while out hunting for Eng- 

 lish Snipe, I came to a marshy strip of woods 

 which had all the appearance of a good location 

 for snipe. I entered it but had not gone far 



