190 NESTS AND EGGS OE 



and Buzzards, and resembling both in its habits. It catches some of 

 its prey living, but feeds readily upon dead animals. Although slug- 

 gish at times, it is said to fly well, moving in a direct line, resembling 

 the Black Vulture somewhat, flapping and sailing alternately, but 

 when high in air, circles like a Hawk or Eagle. 



Dr. Merrill records this bird as a common resident, but more 

 abundant in winter than summer in the vicinity of Fort Brown, Texas, 

 and Mr. George B. Sennett also mentions it as not uncommon in the 

 region of Brownsville. It has been found breeding as far north as 

 Comal, Hays and Ivce counties, Texas, in the months of March and 

 April, and in Jefferson county as late as March 30. Mr. Stuart in- 

 forms me that he has always met with this bird breeding on the large 

 prairies of Southern Florida in March and April. Eggs were taken 

 April 4. The tops of the cabbage palmetto trees are their favorite 

 nesting places in that region. The nests in Texas and Mexico are 

 built in trees or bushes, and sometimes in cliffs ; they are bulky plat- 

 forms of branches, with a slight depression, lined with twigs, roots 

 and grasses, and frequently altogether without lining. Both sexes in- 

 cubate. Two or three eggs are laid, and they are noted for the beauty 

 of their coloration. On a ground color varying from light and dark 

 cinnamon to reddish and umber-brown, are specks, spots, blotches and 

 cloudings of yellowish or reddish-brown, bright chestnut, umber or 

 claret-brown. The markings are variously distributed over the sur- 

 face ; in some specimens they are dispersed over the entire egg, while 

 in others scattering or more abundant at the smaller or greater half; 

 occasional specimens are found almost entirely unmarked. The sizes 

 vary from 3.10 to 3.92 in length by 1.37 to 1.90 in breadth. 



Mr. Norris has a series of fifteen sets in his collection — eight sets 

 of two eggs and seven sets of three. 



364. Pandion haliaetus carolinensis (Gmel.). [425.] 



American Osprey, 



Hab. Nearly cosmopolitan. In America from Alaska and Hudson's Bay south to West Indies and 

 Northern South America. 



This winged fisher inhabits the entire temperate North America, 

 breeding anywhere in suitable places throughout its range. Found 

 about ialand waters, and particularly along the sea coast. Mr. W. W. 

 Worthington, of Shelter Island, N. Y., says they are exceedingly varia- 

 ble in the choice of a nesting place. On Gardiner's Island they all build 

 in trees at distances varying from ten to seventy-five feet from the 

 ground; on Plum Island, where a great many of them breed, a large 

 number place their nests on the ground, some being built up to the 



