232 



NESTS AND HOGS OF 



This winged fisher inhabits the entire temperate North America, breeding any- 

 where in suitable places throughout its range. Found about inland waters, and 

 particularly along the sea coast. Mr. W. W. Worthington, of Shelter Island, N. Y., 

 says they are exceedingly variable in the choice of a nesting place. On Gardiner's 

 Island they all build in trees at distances varying from ten to seventy-iSve feet from 

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

 place their nests on the ffrouhd, some being built up to the height oiE four or five feet, 

 while others are simply a few sticks arranged in a circle, and the eggs laid uti bare 

 sand. On Shelter Island they build on the chimneys of houses, and a pair has a 

 nest on the cross-bar of a telegraph pole. Another pair has a nest on a large rock 

 in Gardiner's Bay, near Gardiner's island. • They are made chiefly of coarse sticks 

 and sea weed and anything that is handy, such as pieces of dry cow dung, bones, old 

 shoes, straw, etc. A curious nest of the Fish Hawk was found by Mr. S. C. Shiek in 

 May, 1888, on the coast of New Jersey. A set of three eggs was taken, and upon de- 



:I64. Fish Hawk, or Osprey. 



ficending the tree, Mr. Shick observed a nest of the purple Grackle, Quiscalus quiscula, 

 securely Imbedded in the loose material of the Osprey 's nest; from this he took -five 

 eggs. At the bottom of the Osprey's nest was a thick, rotten limb, in which there 

 was a Tree Swallow's nest containing seven eggs. Mr. Worthington, who has col- 

 lected hundreds of the eggs of this species, and to whom I am indebted for a large 

 series, says the largest set of eggs he has ever taken or seen is four; the usual num- 

 ber, however, is three, though sets of two are common. They are subject to great 

 variation; the ground color is of yellowish or creamy-white, spotted, streaked and 



