THE OOLOGIST. 



99' 



Two of the eggs are marked on the 

 small end and one on the large end 

 with large blotches of rich brown and 

 chestnut while the fourth has heavy- 

 streaks of brown lengtliwise over the 

 entire egg giving a handsome effect and 

 almost obscuring the back-ground. 

 Mere descriptions are inadequate to 

 properly convey an idea of the beauty 

 of the eggs of this bird. The four eggs 

 of this set measure as follows: I.75x 

 1.28, 1.73x1.25, 1.72x1.27 and 1.73x1.29 

 inches. 



I was somewhat surpi"ised at finding 

 the Kite nesting at this date so a week 

 later, March 24th, found me in the 

 field bright and early in hopes of locat- 

 ing another pair. The country was 

 favorable and after a short search I was 

 rewarded with a last year's nest in a 

 small live oak about 20 feet up. How- 

 ever no birds could be found. I had 

 spent several hours in the locality and 

 had given up hope and was searching 

 for a Barn Owl's nest when a Kite's 

 shadow passed along the ground and 

 looking up I beheld a bird flying 

 straight towards a cluster of oaks 

 about half a mile away. Arouse'd with 

 fresh enthusiasm I followed it and on 

 approaching the place saw the bird sit- 

 ting on the top of a lofty white oak 100 

 yards away. Taking this as a favor- 

 able indication I began a search of the 

 numerous live oaks, making a detour 

 of the field and taking in the more dis- 

 tant trees first. The Kite remained in 

 the same position for almost half an 

 hour when he flew to another live oak 

 a short distance away. Finally upon 

 going under a small black oak I was re-- 

 warded by seeing a dark mass among 

 the foliage at the top, and feeling sure 

 it was the coveted nest began the as- 

 cent. When half way vip the female 

 left noiselessly and a moment later I 

 was in the tree top and to my delight 

 saw five heavily marked eggs reposing 

 in the nest. This nest was the largest 

 and bulkiest I have seen of this species, 



being about two feet across from the 

 extreme edges. It was also much deep- 

 er than any nest thus far located. The 

 lining was of long dry grass, apparent- 

 ly pulled up by the roots and the nest 

 was liberally lined. One large tuft ex- 

 tended from the center of the nest to 

 beyond the edge. Greatly to my sur- 

 prise I found the eggs advanced in in- 

 cubation, three of them being about to 

 hatch. Allowing several days for the 

 construction of the nest it will be seen 

 that nest building must have begun the 

 later part of February. After leaving 

 the nest the female flew over and 

 around me a few times and was pres- 

 ently joined by the male, both flying 

 near and uttering a raspy, clacking 

 note which I had never heard before. 

 This no doubt was giving vent to their 

 anger. Now and then the short, sharp 

 whistle characteristic of the bird was 

 uttered. Soon the female flew to an 

 oak a short distance away and the male 

 took up the battle in earnes!;. Soaring 

 away perhaps 100 ya'dshe came swiftly 

 toward me almost on a level with my 

 head until within about ten feet when 

 he would switch upwards. Then he 

 would soar up and swoop down at 

 lightning speed, always changing his- 

 course before reaching me. The rush 

 of his wings was plainly audible. Again 

 he M^as joined by the female but after a 

 few attacks both flew to near-by trees 

 where they remained till I had depart- 

 ed. This is the only pair of birds 

 which made an attack, and it was no 

 doubt due to the advanced incubation 

 of their eggs. The nest was about 20 

 feet from the ground and very easy of 

 access. This set of eggs is of the com- 

 mon dark phase and all are evenly 

 marked though they had lost their bril- 

 liancy. The avei"age measurements of 

 the set are 1.80x1.31. 



Now we come to that portion of our 

 story of which some of us may hardly 

 approve, namely, the taking of second 

 sets. After seriously considering the^ 



