151 



while others are more substantial, from the lining of Spanish 

 mops or soft Inner bark of the cottonwood which they con- 

 tain; rarely a nest is composed almost entirely of Spanish 

 moiis. 



"The number of eggs in a set is usually two, though three 

 and four, and probably even more are sometimes depositf^d. 

 Audubon found a nest near the Falls of the Ohio in 1820. 

 which contained four young. The male is very attentive and 

 assists the female in building the nest and incubating the 

 eggs, as well as in collecting a large proportion of the food for 

 the young. After the breeding season this Kite is more or 

 less gregarious; families of four or five are usually found 

 together, and occasionally flocks of fifty or more. This species 

 is quite wary and difficult to approach, l.ut if me of the 

 flock is killed or wounded, the others will fly around it. and a 

 number may be secured before they take alarm and move off. 



ITS FLIGHT EASY AND GRACEFUL. 



"The flight is smooth and protracted, and for grace and 

 elegance is not excelled by that of any other species. To fully 

 appreciate its superiority one must see the bird on the wing, 

 for no language can describe the beautv of the ever-varying 

 movements. No matter whether the bird is soaring far above 

 ifH earth, skimming lightly over its surface, ..r following the 

 different gyrations of some fleeting insect, the observer is 

 surprised as well as charmed at the wonderful exhibition, 

 uiten It will stop in mid air. and with half closed wings and 

 depresse.J tail, shake itself much after the manner ..f swal- 

 lows whil? bathing. Although it often alights on trees it 

 rarely IS seen on the ground, and even when capturing' its 

 prey it glides swiftly over the surface, reachhig down a* Ihe 

 proper mcment to secure the quarry. Tt gen^rallv if not 

 always, feed;., while in mid air, bending its ho.id do'wnward 

 and toward the talons to tear the object in its grasr) It 

 drinks while skimming rapidly over the surface of the water 

 Fisher B 11 T)'"'''' ^'^'''"''^''^ ^"'^ '"^"y other birds:"-(Dr 



