Chapter IV 
Part. I—OPEN NESTS IN MARSHES, REEDS, 
SAW-GRASS, AND LOW BUSHES IN OPEN 
COUNTRY 
830. Everglade Kite; Snail Hawk: Rostrhamus socia- 
bilis (Vieill.) 
Adult  —Dark slate colour; upper tail coverts and beneath the 
tail white; tail tipped with white. 
Adult? and immature—Dark brown, feathers tipped with rusty 
colour, under parts somewhat mottled. Length—18.oo. 
Breeding Range—Southward from middle Florida. 
Nest of coarse grass or saw-grass, either in tall rank grass or in 
low bushes among the saw-grass; ‘‘they measure about a foot 
in diameter, with a cavity three inches deep” (Davie). 2 to 3 
eggs are laid; they are dusky white or brownish, with blotches 
and spots of dark reddish brown. Size—1.85 x 1.47. 
The name Snail Hawk is well applied to these birds, as their 
food consists largely of a kind of snail that is to be found in shal- 
low water. 
The breeding season in Florida begins in March. 
498. Red-winged Blackbird: Agelaius phceniceus (Linn.) 
Adult § —Black except the shoulders, which are bright scarlet 
edged with light buff. 
Immature & —Somewhat rusty coloured, with the scarlet of the 
shoulders replaced by dull orange and black. 
Adult 3 —Upper parts dull buff and black streaked; under parts 
streaked blackish and white, the throat tinged with dull 
orange buff, and shoulders sometimes tinged with pinkish 
red. Length (¢)—9.51. 
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