EVERGLADE KITE. 287 



it hold :i round object in its talons. It drew nearer and finally settled on a magnolia bush 

 a few rods away, when I saw that it was a bird that was new to me :md I instantly shot 

 at it, but without effect. It rose and flew away and I anxiously watched it as it hawked 

 about the marsh after the manner of our common Harrier. Then it dropped upon some- 

 thing and returned to its former perch with its prey which was a round object, similar to 

 the first, when I once more fired, but only succeeded in loosening a few feathers, for the 

 bird got up leisurely and went in search of more game, apparently unharmed. It soon 

 returned again but was shy of the bush and would not settle; thus I was obliged to shoot 

 at it on (lie wing but unaccountably missed it a third time. Thinking, no doubt that we 

 were in earnest, it then flow away and did not return, although we waited a long time for 

 it. We then turned homeward, somewhat disappointed, darted down the rapids with the 

 speed of an arrow, and readied the bottom without accident. As I had seen but a single 

 Kite, 1 concluded that some accident had brought it to the Everglades at that time and 

 that I should sec no more of it. This hypothesis was, in a measure confirmed by my vis- 

 iting the locality afterward without seeing it. 



On the first of March, I entered the Everglades accompanied by Mr. Ilenshaw; then 

 we were in search of Anhingas and, as they were very shy and difficult to procure, I con- 

 cluded to use stratogem to obtain a shot at them. Therefore my companion landed me in 

 a small cypress island to the right of the main stream, where I concealed myself beneath 

 a tree that was thickly hung with long streamers of Spanish moss. JVIy companion then 

 rowed up the river for the purpose of driving the Snake Birds down, and as they were ac- 

 customed to alight on the trees on the island they would be within range of my gun. Af- 

 ter a time, several came down as expected, and I had killed one, when I heard the report 

 of my friend's gun. I was wondering what he had killed, when he appeared with a beam- 

 ing countenance. 



He pushed the prow of the skiff into the reeds that grew at my feet, and in reply 

 to my question, "What have yen got'/" held up a Kite that I recognized at once as the 

 same species that I had vainly endeavored to obtain upon a former visit to this place. It 

 was an adult male and Mr. Ilenshaw stated that he had seen another. Upon hearing this, 

 the Anhingas were forgotten and leaping into the boat, we pushed olf. As we approached 

 the spot where I had seen the bird before we perceived one sitting on a bush. By care- 

 fully pushing along the marshy banks of (he tortuous stream under cover of the high grass, 

 we came within gun-shot, and a second Kite was giving its death struggle in the top of 

 the bush. Just at this moment we saw another coming, and its attention being attracted 

 by the motions of the one already shot, it hovered over it a moment, then as it received a 

 charge of shot, sailed gracefully downward and fell in the dense grass only a short distance 

 from us. 



I immediately left the boat, entered the grass, sinking to my knees in water and thus 

 easily secured the first Kite that proved to be another adult male. The second required a 

 longer search, and I experienced considerable difficulty in making my way through the 

 deii-e M-rowth of grass upon such an insecure footing, for the bottom was not only submerged 

 but also quite spongy. After a time, however, I found the Kite, and was turniii" to 



