NESTS AND EGGS OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 103 



The nest is not very substantial, composed of sticks, forming scarcely- 

 more than a mere platform, the cavity being so shallow; it is very spar- 

 ingly lined with the inner bark of the cottonwood, sometimes with straw. 

 When robbed of a first set of eggs another is likely to be laid. Mr. Ev- 

 ermann says the usual time of nesting in the Santa Clara Valley is from 

 April I to May i. 



428. Mississippi Kite — ictinia subc/erulea. Greenish-white, thickly 

 spotted with deep chocolate-brown and black. (?) Mr. N. S. Goss, in 

 the "Auk " for January, 1885, page 21, describes an egg in an advanced 

 state of incubation as pure white; size 1.70 by 1.35. This was taken from 

 a/i old Crozu's nest which the Kite had fitted up with a few extra sticks 

 and green twigs in leaf for lining. The locality was near Neosho Falls, 

 Kansas. The nest, which was in the fork of a medium-sized oak, about 

 forty feet from the ground, had previously been robbed, and, on July 

 5th, the zgg described was taken. The nests of the Swallow-tailed 

 and this one of the Mississippi Kite, which were examined by Mr. Goss and 

 found to contain so few eggs, were on the breeding grounds of the common 

 Crow, which accounts for the robbery and few eggs. This is another of 

 the Kites whose graceful flight is so much admired. Mr. Goss says: 

 " For grace and symmetry of action I would rank them first among the 

 atrial birds, attaching the blue ribbon to the Swallow-tailed." It is con- 

 fined to the Southern United States, regularly north to South Carolina, 

 Illinois, Kansas and Indian Territory ; casually to Pennsylvania, Iowa and 

 Wisconsin ; south to Mexico. 



429. Everglade Kite — rostrhamus sociabilis plumbeus. Bluish- 

 white, spotted and blotched irregularly with brown and umber of varying 

 shades; one or two in number; rather oval in form ; size about 1.72 by 

 1.45. This Kite is distributed as a constant resident throughout the 

 marshy sections of Middle and Southern Florida and in some parts of 

 South America. Mr. C. J. Maynard,. in his "Birds of Eastern North 

 America,*" says: "I have never met with this bird, except on the marshes 

 of the Everglades, where it resides throughout the year; but it also occurs 

 in all the fresh water marshes of Middle and Southern Florida." The nest 

 is placed in bushes, not very bulky, composed of sticks, twigs, weeds, etc. 

 The South American bird, R. sociabilis, Dr. Coues says, averages larger 

 and is lighter-colored than the R. s. phiuibeus. 



* The Birds of Eastern North America; with original descriptions of all the species which occnr east of 

 the Mississippi River, between the Arctic Circle and the Gnlf of Mexico, with full notes upon their habits, etc. 

 By C. J. Maynard; containing thirty-two plates drawn on stone by the Author. Revised Edition. Newton- 

 ville, Mass.: C. J. Maynard and Co., 1881. 



