194 NUIITII AMEliU-'AN BIKDS. 



orii lirazil, Buenos Ayrcs, ami, accoriling to Vioillnt, to Pern. It nests in 

 Soutli Caroliuii and in all the States lliat bonier on the (iiilf of ^lexico, 

 Ireijueiitijii^- the luinks of rivers, l)iit is not I'oiuid near the sealioard. 



Mr. Thni'e Kunilien ncitieetl a pair of these Hawks in the neighhorliood 

 of l''(irt Aticinsdn, Wis,, in the summer of 1854, and had no doubt tlicy 

 were lireedinj^-, thon;;ii he was not aide to find their nest. 



iMr. Osbert .Salviii, in a letter iVom San (leronimo, in the A'era Taz (Ibis, 

 1800, p. lUo), stat(.'s that he has positive information that this Hawk breeds 

 in the mountains about t'olian, his chief collector havm,n' found a nest there 

 with y lung the previnus year. Specimens had been befcn-e tliat received by 

 Mr. Sclater, forwanled liy 'Sir. Skinnei', i'rom the ni'ighboihood of Cajabon, 

 Guatemala. It was said to Ije more numerous at Pielize. 



]\Ir. Dresser informs us that he w- so fortunate as to find this graceful 

 bird very abundant in some jjarts of '.'exas, and he had a good opportunity 

 of observing and admiring it in its true home. It was occasional about San 

 Antonio de IJexar, where it was usually seen late in duly Ijefore heavy 

 rains. Xear the Ilio Clrande or in Texas he did not see it at all. At Peach 

 Creek and near Cionzales he i'ouud it not mifreijueut; and on the Colorado, 

 Prazos, and Trinity llivers it was one of the most common birds. It only 

 remains there during the summer months, arriving early in April, and breed- 

 ing later than the other birds of prey. On the 2()th of May he found them 

 very abundant on a creek near the Colorado, bu^ none had commenced 

 breeding. They were jn-eparing their nests ; and, from the nundier he saw 

 about one largo grove, he judged that they breed in society. On his wound- 

 ing one of them, the rest came Hying over his head in the manner of Sea- 

 gulls, uttering harsh erics; and he counted forty or fifty over him at one 

 time. He was informed that these Kites build high u}) in oak, sycamore, or 

 Cottonwood Iree.^. sometimes qiiite far from the ci'eeks. 



Mr. Dre.'^ser describes this bird as exhibiting a singularly pleasing appear- 

 ance on tlie wing, gliding in large circles, witlmut apjtarent effort, in very 

 ra]>id flight. Tlie tail is widely spread, and when sailing in circles the wings 

 are almost motioidess. One was noticed as it was hunting after grasshop- 

 pers. It went over the ground as carefully as a well-trained ]tointer, every 

 now and then .stooping (o ]iick u]t a grasshopjier the feet and liill seennng 

 to touch file insect sinndtaneously. They were very fond of wasp grubs, 

 and would carry a nest to a high perch, liohl it in one claw, and sit there 

 picking (uit the grubs. Their .stomachs were found to contain beetles and 

 gra.s.shoi)]icrs. 



Dr. \\'oodhou,se s]'.eaks of this Hawk as connnon in Texas, and also in the 

 country of the Creek and Cherokee nations. He confirms the accounts 

 which liave been received of its fondn(!SS for the neighborhood of streams, 

 and adds tliat along tlu' Arkansas and its tril)utaries it was very abundant. 



Mr. b'idgway states that this Hawk arrives in llichland County, 111., 

 in May, and lives during the summer on the small prairies, feeding there 



