182 LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



attached, might have been broken off by the bh-ds while green; the first men- 

 tioned material predominates in the lining. This nest was found on April 3, 

 and had just been finislied. On April 23, it was visited again, and it then con- 

 tained two eggs, in wliich incnbation was so far advanced that they could 

 not be saved. 



From the foregoing accounts it will be seen that the nesting sites selected 

 b^' these birds are rather variable, and that while in some sections in South 

 America they may be said to breed in small colonies, this does not appear to be 

 the case in Florida, at least as far as we know at present. The food of this 

 species in Florida, about which all observers agree, seems to consist entirely of 

 a fresh water snail, romiis depressa (Say), and according to Mr. W. E. D. Scott, 

 the local name of the Everglade Kite in the vicinity of Panasofka Lake, where 

 he found them very abundant dixring the month of March, 1876, is "Snail 

 Hawk." 



The number of eggs is two or three, and these seem to be deposited from 

 the latter part of February till the 1st of May, usually in March or the begin- 

 ning of April. 



In shape they vary from a rounded ovate to oval. The ground color is 

 pale greenish white. In some specimens this is scarcely perceptible, the whole 

 surface of the Qgg being covered with rusty or brownish red blotches and 

 smears of different degrees of intensity, and running into each other, hiding 

 it completely. None of the markings in the majority of specimens befoi'e me 

 are well defined, except in a single one. In this case the ground color is 

 distinctly visible, the egg being but slightly marked, principally about the 

 center. These markings are well defined in the shape of small irregular 

 blotches connected with each other by lines and scrawls similar to those 

 found on the eggs of the Grackles. They vary from fawn color to light 

 brown. 



The average measurement of six specimens is 44.5 by 37 millimetres. The 

 largest Qgg measures 47 by 37.5, the smallest 42 by 37 millimetres. 



The type specimen (No. 16827, U. S. National Museum collection) was 

 taken in the s])ring of 1873, in Florida, by Mr. C. J. Maynard. It is figured 

 on PI. 5, Fig. 6. Another, from a set of three eggs taken by Mr. E. W. Mon- 

 treuil, March 16, in the Everglades of Florida, was kindly loaned by the 

 American Museum of Natural History, New York City, for the purpose of 

 figuring. It is the lightest colored egg of this species I have seen. This is 

 figured on PI. 5, Fig. 7. 



