AC A Williams, Birds of Leon County, Fla. \^^ 



42. Catharista urubu. Black Vulture. — Common resident. Of 

 retiring habits during the nesting season, which begins as early as Feb- 

 ruary 20. Less frequently seen in the city than Cathartes, though it will 

 be found in large numbers during winter, roosting in the tall moribund 

 red oaks so abundant in Tallahassee. It is impossible for one to divest 

 himself of the gloomy effect such a sight produces upon his senses. The 

 sable pall stands out in bold relief against the clear, moonlit sky and the 

 assemblage seems one of chief mourners at some august funeral. It is 

 likewise exempt from the devastating hand of man. 



43. Elanoides forficatus. Swallow-tailed Kite. — Of occasional 

 occurrence in the spring, either singly or in flocks. I have no record of 

 its nesting. 



44. Ictinia mississippiensis. Mississippi Kite. — Of irregular occur- 

 rence in spring. Never present, so far as I am able to determine, except 

 in 'flights,' lasting usually only long enough to accomplish a leisurely 

 journey across the county. While so travelling they are invariably 

 engaged in most graceful and complex evolutions. Notwithstanding 

 the assertion that they occur onlj^ in flights of short duration in spring, 

 I feel obliged to refer to a single egg sent a few years since to the National 

 Museum for identification and pronounced to be the egg of an Icfinia. 

 I have not seen the egg recently. It was found in a nest, about 30 feet 

 up in a pine, near a public highway, by my friend Oilman J. Winthrop, 

 and is now in our joint collection at his home in Tallahassee. This 

 establishes a nesting record for the species in Leon County, but it is cer- 

 tain that the bird is a very infrequent summer resident. 



45. Circus hudsonius. Marsh Hawk. — Rather common winter resi- 

 dent, usually seen flying over old well-weeded fields in pursuit of its 

 humble prey. 



46. Accipiter velox. Sharp-shinned Hawk. — Resident. I have no 

 nesting records. 



47. Accipiter cooperii. Cooper's Hawk. — Common resident. Nests 

 usuallv placed in a pine. Very troublesome around the poultrj' yard. 



48. Buteo borealis. Red-tailed Hawk. — Common resident. 



49. Buteo lineatus alleni. Florida Red-shouldered Hawk. — Com- 

 mon resident. Have been unable to determine its exact status. 



50. Buteo platypterus. Broad-winged Hawk. — Common resident. 

 Fresh eggs are found about May i. 



51. Haliaeetus leucocephalus. Bald Eagle. — Resident in limited 

 numbers. One set of two eggs was taken December 22, 1S96, by my 

 friend Winthrop. 



52. Falco columbarius. Pigeon Hawk. — Rare migrant, so far as 

 known. Have taken one, October 12, 1901. 



53. Falco sparverius. American Sparrow Hawk. — Common resi- 

 dent. 



54. Pandion haliaetus carolinensis. American Osprey. — Found spar- 

 ingly throughout the j-ear. One nested on an island in Lake lamonia a 

 few years since. 



I 



