368 BLACK-SHOULDERED HAWK. 
found this species breeding on the plantation of ALexanpEr Mayzcx, 
Esq., on the Santee River, early in the month of March, and shot three, 
two of which, a male and a female, are now in my possession. Their 
nests were placed on low trees near the margins of the river, and re- 
sembled those of the American Crow, but had none of the substantial 
lining of that bird’s nest. Mr Warp states, that at this time they 
were seen flying over the cane brakes in pursuit of large insects, some- 
what in the manner of the Mississippi Kite, and that they were very 
shy. 
My friend Joun Bacuman has seen this species fly in groups, at 
a very great height, in the beginning of March, and thinks that it is 
only of late years that they have located themselves in South Carolina, 
where, however, five of them have been procured in one year. 
The Black-shouldered Hawk appears to give a decided preference 
to low lands, not distant from the shores of the Atlantic. On our way 
toward the Texas, several of these birds were seen over the large mar- 
shes, flying at a small elevation, and coursing in search of prey, much 
in the manner of the Hen-harrier or Marsh Hawk, but all evidently 
bent on proceeding to the eastward. Whether this species winters 
there or not, I am unable to say, but that some remain all the year in 
Florida, and even in South Carolina, I am quite confident. 
The difference between the food of this species and that of the Mis- 
sissippi Kite is surprising tome. I have never seen the latter seize 
any bird, whereas the B!ack-shouldered Hawk, certainly does so, as in 
the stomachs of two individuals which I examined were remains of 
birds as well as of coleopterous insects. These two birds agree nearly 
with the description of the one procured by Mr Tirtaw PEate, except- 
ing in the length of the wings, which in them and in several others 
that have come under my notice, have their tips fully an inch shorter 
than the end of the tail. A breeding female differed from the rest in 
having the eyes dull yellowish-red ; the tail-feathers had all been ash- 
grey, all the primaries were edged with white, and many of the se- 
condaries were still of a light brownish-grey ; the black spots under the 
wings were smaller than usual; the abdomen was also tinged with 
brownish-grey. I am therefore of opinion, that these birds undergo as 
many changes of plumage as the Mississippi Kite. 
