Cbe Warbler 39 



In the spring of 1881 four pairs of Swallow-tailed Kites nested about a 

 half a mile from my house, and in 1882 I found seven pairs in a little more 

 extended locality of the same bottom woods. I observed them quite closely 

 throughout these two seasons. They were not at all timid, flying constant- 

 ly over my house. I found about twenty nests during these two seasons but 

 they were mostly inaccessible to me as they were built invariably in the tops 

 of the tallest forest trees. Out of this number only six nests could be ex- 

 amined. The first nest which I ever found was discovered April 29, 1880, 

 near Spring Creek, Harris County, in the southeastern part of Texas. It 

 was built in the very top of a tall and slender pine at least a hundred feet 

 from the ground, and inaccessible to me. It was an irregular mass of small 

 twigs and Spanish moss. I could easily see the breeding- bird's tail and 

 head with my field-glass. Near the West Yegua I had a much better chance 

 of studying the nidification of these birds, though not at all satisfactory to 

 me, because I was only able to examine comparatively few nests personally, 

 as it was exceedingly dangerous to climb the tall trees. They were invar- 

 iably built in the tops of the highest pin-oaks, pecan trees, hickories and 

 hackberry trees, usually from 50 to 80 feet from the ground. All the nests 

 which I saw were built of twigs and Spanish moss, often lined with usnea 

 lichens. They were exceedingly strong and bulky, measuring from 12 to 15 

 inches in diameter — the cavity being considerably smaller than those of 

 Crows' nests. In gathering material for their nests the birds never appear 

 to reach the ground. They collect the small twigs, which form the founda- 

 tion of the structure, while on the wing, breaking them with their talons 

 while passing by, and carrying them in their talons to the nest. Spanish 

 moss, usnea lichens and bark strips are gathered in the same w T ay. On April 

 16, 1882, I climbed a tall pecan tree, but when I came near the nest I found 

 it was built about 8 feet from the main trunk, the supporting branches being 

 quite small and weak. The next day I climbed a tall hickory tree, in the 

 top of which I had seen the bird carry material. This nest was about 55 

 feet from the ground and could be easily inspected, the surrounding branches 

 being strong and the structure being placed in the center of the tree. It was 

 built of sticks and Spanish moss and the cavity was snugly lined with usnea 

 lichens- It contained three eggs, dull white in color, blotched with dark 

 brown and rusty spots rather sparingly. One of the eggs only shewed a few 

 large marks. The shape was ovate and very regular, on both ends about 

 equally large. They measured 1.82x1.51, 1.85x1.52 and 1.79x1.50 respectively. 



While I was inspecting this nest all the birds in the neighborhood gath- 

 ered, attacking me most furiously, flying almost into my face and uttering 

 their piercing notes constantly. I had to strike at them constantly with a 

 bag, which I had taken with me as a receptacle for the eggs and the nest, to 

 keep them away. Another nest which I examined was built in a hackberry 

 tree about 60 feet from the ground. The birds began nest-building April 6, 



