EVEliGJ,A])i: KJTE. 2G 1 



if h'^M a miTi'l ohjoct in its talons. It drew nearer and finally settled on a magnolia Tinsh 

 <! lew rails :r.\:iy, when I saw that it was a bird that was new to me and I instantly s!.;;t. 

 at it, bat without effect. It rose and flew away and I anxiously watched it as it hawked 

 about the marsh after the manner of our common ILmier. Then it dropped upon some- 

 thing and returned to its former percli with its prey which was a rounil object, similar to 

 the first, when I once more fired, but only succeeded in loosening a few feathers, for the 

 biril got up leisurely and went in search of more game, apparently unharmed. It soon 

 returned again but was shy of the bush and would not settle; thus I was obliged to shoot 

 at it on the wing but unaccountably missed it a third time. Thinking, no doubt tliat we 

 were in earnest, it then tlevv away and did not return, although we waited a long time for 

 it. We then turned homeward, somewhat disappointed, darted down the rapids with tlie 

 sp'cil of an arrow, and reached the bottom without accident. As I had seen but a singh; 

 Kili , I conclu.led that some accident had brought it to the Everglades at th:it time and 

 thai I ihduld see no more of it. This hypothesis was, in a measure confirmed by my vis- 

 iting the locality afterward without seeing it. 



On the first of March, I entered the Everglades accompanied by Mr. Ilenshaw; then 

 w'> were in search of Anhingas and, as they were very shy and difficult to procure, I con- 

 cluded to use strategem to obtain a shot at them. Therefore my companion landed me in 

 a small cypress island to the right of the main stream, where I concealed myself beneath 

 a tree that was thickly hung with long streamers of Spanish moss. My companion then 

 rowed up the river for the purpose of driving the Snake Birds down, and as they were ac- 

 customed to alight on the trees on the island they would be within range of my gun. Af- 

 ter a time, several came down as expected, and I had killed one, when I heard the i-eport 

 of my friend's gun. I was wondering what he had killed, when he appeared with a lirani- 

 ing countenance. 



He pushed the prow of the skiff into the reeds that grew at my feet, and in reply 

 to my question, "What have ycu got?" held up a Kite tliat I recognized at once as the 

 same species that I had vainly endeavored to obtain upon a former visit to this ])lace. It 

 was an adult male and Mr. Ilenshaw stated that he had seen another. Upon hearing this, 

 the Anhingas were forgotten and leaping into the boat, we pushed oif. As we apijroached 

 the spot where I had seen the bird before we perceived one sitting on a busli. By care- 

 fully pushing along the marshy banks of the tortuous stream under cover of tlic high grass, 

 we came within gun-shot, and a second Kite was giving its death struggle in the top of 

 the bush. Just at this moment we saw another coming, and its attention being attracted 

 by the motions of the one already shot, it hovered over it a moment, then as it received a 

 charge of shot, sailed gracefully downward and illl in the dense grass only a short distance 

 from us. 



I immediately left the boat, entered the grass, sinking to my knees in water ami thus 

 easily secured the first Kite that proved to be anotlier adidt male. The second re([uired a 

 longer search, and I experienced considerable difiiculty in making my way throui;Ii the 

 •dense growth of grass upon such an insecure footing, for the bottom was not only submerged 

 but also quite spongy. After a time, however, I iound the Kite, a.nd was turning to 



