Chapter IV 



Part I —OPEN NESTS IN MARSHES, REEDS, 

 SAW-GRASS, AND LOW BUSHES IN OPEN 

 COUNTRY 



330. Everglade Kite; Snail Hawk: Rostrhamus socia- 



bilis (Vieill.) 



AduU$— Dark slate colour; upper tail coverts and beneath the 



tail white; tail tipped with white. 

 Adults and immature — Dark brown, feathers tipped with rusty 



colour, under parts somewhat mottled. Length — 18.00. 

 Breeding Range — Southward from middle Florida. 



Nest of coarse grass or saw-grass, either in tall rank grass or in 

 low bushes among the saw-grass; " they measure about a foot 

 in diameter, with a cavity three inches deep" (Davie). 2 to 3 

 eggs are laid ; they are dusky white or brownish, with blotches 

 and spots of dark reddish brown. Size — 1.85 x'1.47. 



The name Snail Hawk is well applied to these birds, as their 

 food consists largely of a kind of snail that is to be found in shal- 

 low water. 



The breeding season in Florida begins in March. 



498. Red-winged Blackbird : Agelaius phceniceus (Linn.) 



Adults — Black except the shoulders, which are bright scarlet 



edged with light buff. 

 Immature^ — Somewhat rusty coloured, with the scarlet of the 



shoulders replaced by dull orange and black. 

 Adult 'i — Upper parts dull buff and black streaked; under parts 



streaked blackish and white, the throat tinged with dull 



orange buff, and shoulders sometimes tinged with pinkish 



red. Length (5)— 9.51. 



77 



