178 LIFE tilSTORIBS OF NOETH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



near Sun City, Barber County, and from their actions knew that they were 

 mating and upon their breeding grounds — a lucky find, worth following up. 

 On the 11th I noticed several of these birds with sticks in their bills (green 

 twigs in leaf) flying aimlessly about as if undecided where to jjlace them, 

 keeping hidden within the trees as much as possible, dropping the sticks 

 when from fright or other cause they arose high above the tree tops. * * * 



"I returned to the Kites on "the 16th, and remained watching the birds 

 until the morning of the 22d, at which time the nests found, seven in num- 

 ber, appeared to be completed, and I saw a pair of the birds in the act of 

 copulation. A business matter called me home, and I hired the man, with 

 whom I stopped, to climb the trees on the 28th for the eggs, but a hailstorm 

 on the 25th injured the nests badly, and in one case beat the nest out of 

 the tree. On the 31st he collected four sets of two eggs each, and one with 

 only one egg. It being a hard tree to climb, he decided to take the egg 

 rather than wait to see if the bird would lay more. Not hearing from him, 

 I returned to the ground June 10, and put in the day examining the nests, 

 etc., collecting two more sets of two eggs each. * * * The old nests had 

 a few leaves for lining, in addition to the leaves attached to- the twigs used 

 in repairing the same, but the new ones appeared to be without additional 

 leaves. They were all built either in the forks from the main body, or in 

 the forks of the larger limbs of the cottonwood and elm trees, and were at 

 least from 10 to 100 rods apart; were not bulky, and when old would be 

 taken for the nests of the common Crow. They ranged in height from 25 

 to 50 feet from the ground.^" 



Mr. George E. Beyer writes me that he "took two nests of this species 

 in Louisiana during the season of 1889." According to his observations "but 

 one brood is raised in a season, nidification beginning late, usually about the 

 end of May. The nests are placed in the tops of lo):)lolly pines (Pintis tceda) 

 or white oaks (Quercus alba), at a height of from 50 to 60 feet. Pine woods 

 are the favorite localities. 



"Though of a peaceful disposition, under ordinary circumstances, the Mis- 

 sissippi Kite vigorously attacks all intruders coming too close to its nesting 

 site. A nest found June 10, 1889, was built in a loblolly pine between a fork- 

 near the top. It was composed of small dry twigs of water or pin oak and 

 lined with Spanish moss and contained but a single egg. A second nest, 

 found in an oak about 40 feet from the ground, on June 24, 1889, was simi- 

 larly constructed and lined with the dry leaves of the loblolly pine and moss 

 mixed. This set contained three well incubated eggs, nearly ready to hatch. 

 Both sexes incubate, and the male also assists in building the nest. I have 

 seen this species viciously attacking Crows and Jays when too close to its 

 nest, uttering at the same time a sharp hissing sound composed of two syl- 

 lables." 



According to Dr. A. K. Fisher's experience in Louisiana it would appear 



'Auk, Vol. IV, 1887, pp. 344,345. 



