246 ' LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTE AMERICAN BIRDS. 



the greater or smaller axis of the egg; or again they may be evenly distributed 

 over its entire surface, relieved here and there by an occasional dark lilac or 

 rich chestnut colored spot. In others, these shell markings are either entirely 

 absent or but faintly perceptible, and the egg is spotted and blotched with 

 different shades of brown, hazel, drab, and fawn color. These markings are 

 usually heaviest on either the large or small end. One specimen in Dr. 

 William L. Ralph's collection is very finely marked with small dots not larger 

 than dust shot, rather evenly distributed over nearly the entire surface, giving 

 it a flea-bitten appearance; occasionally an egg is almost entirely unspotted. 



The type specimens selected to show some of the variations are as follows: 

 No. 7271 (PI. 7, Fig. 13), a single egg collected by Mr. T. B. Richie, near Brook- 

 line, Massachusetts, May, 1861; No. 23084 (PI. 7, Fig. 11), from a set of two 

 taken by Dr. A. K. Fisher,, near Sandy Spring, Maryland, May 10, 1887; No. 

 23272 (PL 7, Fig. 10), from a set of two collected by Dr. A. K. Fisher, near 

 Sing Sing, New York, May 24, 1888; and No. 23979 (PL 7, Fig. 12), from a set 

 of two taken by Mr. Manly Hardy, near Holden, Maine, May 21, 1890. 



83. Buteo brachyurus Vieillot. 



SHOET-TAILED HAWK. 



Buteo brachyurus Vieillot, Nouveau Dictionaire; iv, 1816, 477. 



(B — , C — , R — C — , U 344.) 



Geographical range : Tropical America in general, except West Indies, noi'th 

 to eastern Mexico and Florida. 



Within the United States the breeding range of the Short-tailed Hawk, as 

 far as is known at present, is confined to the State of Florida. It can no longer 

 be considered as only an accidental visitor to our southern borders, having 

 been met with in various portions of Florida, and is known to breed there 

 regularly, at least as far north as Tarpon Springs and St. Marks on the Gulf 

 coast. It may be confidently looked for as a rare summer resident through- 

 out that State, and possibly also in the southern portions of the other States 

 bordering on the Gulf of Mexico. 



Mr. W. E. D. Scott states: "The observations already recorded * * * 

 and other records here given, lead to the conclusion that this species is of reg- 

 ular occurrence on the Gulf coast of Florida, at least as far north as the 

 vicinity of Tarpon Springs, and that it breeds regularly, though rarely, in this 

 region there can be no doubt. The birds that have been met with in the 

 immediate vicinity of Tarpon Springs have usually been seen in pairs; once 

 three were observed together. 



"During March and April, 1888, within a radius of 10 miles of the town 

 in question, there were observed by me on March 17 a single bird, on April 6 

 a pair, on April 10 a pair, these last two pairs being probably the same indi- 

 viduals. On two other days late in March and April, and several times in 



