THE OSPREY. 



An I 1 1 ustrated Magazine of Popular Ornithology. 



Published fVlonthlv. 



Volumes V. 



NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER, iqoi. 



Numbers 11. 12. 



Original and Selected Articles. 



SOME BIRDS OF THE KISSIMMEK VALLEY, FLORIDA.— III. 

 By William Palmer, Washington; D. C. 



61. Whip pooh will. (Antrostornus voci/e- 

 rus.) 



Found and heard occasionally in Hammocks. 



62. Ruby throated Hummingbird. (Tro- 

 chilus colubris.) 



I heard one at Orange Hammock on March 21. 



63. Kingbird. (Tyrannies tyrannus.) 



First one seen; March 18. at Orange Hum- 

 mock. Common afterwards, especially in the 

 swamps. 



64. Great crested Fi.m etcher. (Myiar- 

 clius crinitus.) 



Two seen; Lake Arbuckle, March 9, and 

 Orange Hammock, March 13. 



65. Phoebe. (Sayornis phoebe. i 

 Quite common about the river. 



66. Florida Blue Jay. (Cyanocitta cristata 

 fiorincola. ) 



Fairly common in small Hocks in the pines 

 and thick Hammocks; abundant at Lake Ar- 

 buckle. 



67. Florida Crow. [Corvus americanus 

 pascua.) 



Common; readily distinguished from the 

 common Crow by the more triangular outline of 

 its bill. Notes and habits the same, except that 

 one hears occasionally a harsh croaking series 

 of notes (possibly an attempt at a song) which I 

 have never heard made by the more northern 

 bird. Two adult females measured 18.50 by 

 36.50 and 18.50 by 35. *7. 



68. Fish Crow. (Corvus ossifra^ 



Hardly as common as the above: but equally 

 as fond of oranges; frequently seen flying off 

 with his bill stuck into one. Not seen away 

 from the Kissimmee. 



69. Florida Red winged Blackbird. [Age- 

 lain s phoeniceus floridanus.) 



Very abundant about the river and canals. As 

 compared with the males in abundance the 

 females were perhaps as one to about twenty or 



thirty. Young males of the previous season 

 were not numerous and were moulting, a condi- 

 tion not seen in adults. A female was noticed 

 for some time building a nest (the only one 

 seen) on March 23. The nest was built about 

 four feet above the water in a willow, and the 

 male kept anxious watch from the tops of the 

 highest branches near by. This male was an 

 immature plumaged bird while dozens of finely 

 plumaged males evidently unpaired, were feed- 

 ing in the vicinity. An adult male taken Feb- 

 ruary 28, has a streak of white feathers between 

 both eyes and the base of the upper mandible. 

 Two malts measured as follows: Length 8.87 

 and 8 75 inches; extent 14.25 and 13.87. Two 

 females measured 7.25 and 7.50 in length, and 

 11.50 and 12.12 in extent. 



70. Southern Meadowlark. [Stumella 

 magna ludoviciana. \ 



A small dark bird quite different from the bird 

 found about Washington, D. C, though I could 

 deteel no di He re nee in the notes or habits except 

 that it is extremely abundant and very tame, 

 usually permitting an approach to about twenty 

 feet, sometimes nearer. 



71. Florida Grackle. 



ag I cries, i 



Several small flocks seen in the pines. 



72. Boat tailed Grackle. (Quiscalus 

 major, i 



An abundant, tame, and most interesting 

 bird. Seldom seen away from the river, and 

 always feeds in and about the water. The 

 antics and alternate singing of several males, 

 frequently on the same branch, one above the 

 other, is an interesting feature of the bird-life 

 of this region. With the bill pointing directly 

 upwards, and the feathers of the head and neck 

 except the throat, drawn tightly to the skin, 

 the body in a crouched position and the wings 

 partly extended, one of the birds will utter a 



(Quiscalus quiscula 



