1 8 Scott on Birds observed in Florida. 



borhood were at least seven or eight other pairs of Eagles 

 breeding. 



Audubon's Caracara (Polvborus brasiliensis) was not observed 

 at any of the localities visited. 



The Barred Owl {Strix nebulosa alleni), which was very 

 abundant at Panasofkee Lake, was rather a rare bird at the points 

 visited on the coast, but the Screech Owl {Scops asio Jloridana) , 

 which I did not find in the interior, was abundant at both loca- 

 tions on the Gulf Coast. The specimens obtained are most of 

 them in the gray or mottled plumage, though two are in the red 

 plumage. In size they are like the Acadian Owl {Nyctale aca- 

 dica) as found in New Jersey, a trifle smaller if anything. 



The Black-breasted Plover (Sat/artarola helvetica) was very 

 common in November. December, and January at the mouth of 

 the Withlacoochee River, and remained common at Clearwater 

 until late in March. The Golden Plover ( CJiaradrins virginicus) 

 was not met with. In Januarv I several times saw the Wilson's 

 Plover {^jflLgialitis nvilsonia) , but it was not common. On my 

 arrival at Clearwater. 30th Januarv, it was abundant in small 

 flocks of from four to a dozen. They were very unsuspicious and 

 easily taken. My assistant, Mr. James Henry Devereux, procur- 

 ed many nests with eggs of this species on the shores of Old 

 Tampa Bay in April and early May. He says that they breed 

 verv abundantly at this point but their eggs and young are so dil- 

 igently sought after and destroyed by the common hog that very 

 few escape. This is also the case with the Willet ( Totanus semi- 

 pahnatits) and other ground-nesting species. 



Both the Semipalmated and Piping Plovers {sEgialitis semi- 

 palmata and ./E. meloda), were met with at the mouth of the 

 Withlacoochee River in December and Januarv ; the former very 

 abundantly and the latter rarely. The former was also common 

 at Clearwater in February. The Oystercatcher {Hivmatopns 

 palliatns) was not uncommon during my stay at the mouth of 

 the river, but was rather more numerous during late December 

 and January. It was common at Clearwater, where Mr. Dever- 

 eux obtained a set of eggs. At all points where it was met with 

 it was very shy. During November, December, and January, the 

 Turnstone (Sfrepsilas interpres) was an abundant bird at the 

 mouth of the Withlacoochee River, and it was also common at 

 Clearwater during the first part of February. 



