i8 
Scott on Birds observed in Florida. 
borhood were at least seven or eight other pairs of Eagles 
breeding. 
Audubon’s Caracara ( Polyborus brasiliensis ) was not observed 
at any of the localities visited. 
The Barred Owl ( Strix nebulosa alleni), which was very 
abundant at Panasofkee Lake, was rather a rare bird at the points 
visited on the coast, but the Screech Owl ( Scops asio floridanai ) , 
which I did not find in the interior, was abundant at both loca- 
tions on the Gulf Coast. The specimens obtained are most of 
them in the gray or mottled plumage, though two are in the red 
plumage. In size they are like the Acadian Owl (JVyctale aca- 
dica) as found in New Jersey, a trifle smaller if anything. 
The Black-breasted Plover ( Squartarola helvetica ) was very 
common in November, December, and January at the mouth of 
the Withlacoochee River, and remained common at Clearwater 
until late in March. The Golden Plover ( Charadrius virginicus ) 
was not met with. In January I several times saw the Wilson’s 
Plover (. FEgialitis zvilsonia) , but it was not common. On my 
arrival at Clearwater, 30th January, it was abundant in small 
flocks of from four to a dozen. They were very unsuspicious and 
easily taken. My assistant, Mr. James Henry Devereux, procur- 
ed many nests with eggs of this species on the shores of Old 
Tampa Bay in April and early May. He says that they breed 
very abundantly at this point but their eggs and young are so dil- 
igently sought after and destroyed by the common hog that very 
few escape. This is also the case with the Willet ( Totanus semi- 
palmatus ) and other ground-nesting species. 
Both the Semipalmated and Piping Plovers ( FEgialitis semi- 
palmata and FF. meloda ), were met with at the mouth of the 
Withlacoochee River in December and January ; the former very 
abundantly and the latter rarely. The former was also common 
at Clearwater in February. The Oystercatcher ( Hcematopus 
palliatus ) was not uncommon during my stay at the mouth of 
the river, but was rather more numerous during late December 
and January. It was common at Clearwater, where Mr. Dever- 
eux obtained a set of eggs. At all points where it was met with 
it was very shy. During November, December, and January, the 
Turnstone ( Strepsilas interpres') was an abundant bird at the 
mouth of the Withlacoochee River, and it was also common at 
Clearwater during the first part of February. 
