aaa 



NB8T8 A\l> I 



This winged fisher inhabits the entire temperate North America, breeding any 

 where in suitable places throughout its range. Found about inland waters, and 

 particularly along the sea coast. Mr. \V. \V. Worthington. of Shelter Island, N. Y., 

 says they are exceedingly variable in the choice of a nesting place. On Gardiner's 

 Island they all build in- trees at distances varying from ten to seventy-five feet from 

 the ground; on Plum Island, where a great many of them breed, a large number 

 place their ne*t <-////</. some being built up to the height of four or five feet, 



while others are simply a few sticks arranged in a circle, and the eggs laid <m /// 

 sand. On Shelter Island they build on the chimneys of houses, and a pair ; 

 nest on the cross-bar of a telegraph pole. Another pair has a nest on a large rock 

 in Gardiner's Bay, near Gardiner's Island. They are made chiefly of coarse sticks 

 and sea weed and anything that is handy, such as pieces of dry cow dung, bones, old 

 shoes, stra N. curious nest of the Fish Hawk was found by Mr. S. C. Shirk in 



May. 1888, on. the coast of New Jersey. A set of three eggs was taken, and upon de- 



:4. FISH HAWK, or OIHKP.Y. 



cending the tree, Mr. Shick observed a nest of the purple Grackle, (ju'w<Hu* 

 ecnrely Imbedded in the loose material of the Osprey's nest; from this he took five 

 tgg*. At the bottom of the Osprey's nest was a thick, rotten limb, in which ther 

 was a Tree Swallow's nest containing seven eggs. Mr. Worthington. who has col- 

 1 hundreds of the eggs of this species, and to whom I am indebted for a larfl* 

 RTlr*. says the largest set of pggs h< has \ i t;ik-n or seen is four: the usual num- 

 Wr, however. Is three, though sets of two are common. They are subject to great 

 variation; the ground color is of yellowish or creamy-white, spotted, streaked and 



