EVERGLADE KITE. 
287 
it held a round object in its talons. It drew nearer and finally settled on a magnolia bush 
a few rods away, when I saw that it was a bird that was new to me and I instantly shot 
at it, but without etfect. It rose and flew away and I anxiously watched it as it hawked 
about the marsh after the manner of our common Harrier. Then it dropped upon some¬ 
thing and returned to its former perch with its prey which was a round object, similar to 
the first, when I once more fired, but only succeeded in loosening a few feathers, for the 
bird got up leisurely and went in search of more game, apparently unharmed. It soon 
returned again but was shy of the bush and would not settle; thus I was obliged to shoot 
at it on the wing but unaccountably missed it a third time. Thinking, no doubt that we 
were in earnest, it then flew away and did not return, although we waited a long time for 
it. We then turned homeward, somewhat disappointed, darted down the rapids with the 
speed of an arrow, and reached the bottom without accident. As I had seen but a single 
Kite, I concluded that some accident had brought it to the Everglades at that time and 
that I should see no more of it. This hypothesis was, in a measure confirmed by my vis¬ 
iting the locality afterward without seeing it. 
On the first of March, I entered the Everglades accompanied by Mr. Ilenshaw; then 
we were in search of Anhingas and, as they were very shy and difficult to procure, I con¬ 
cluded to use strategem to obtain a shot at them. Therefore my companion landed me in 
a small cypress island to the right of the main stream, where I concealed myself beneath 
a tree that was thickly hung with long streamers of Spanish moss. My companion then 
rowed up the river for the purpose of driving the Snake Birds down, and as they were ac¬ 
customed to alight on the trees on the island they would be within range of my gun. Af¬ 
ter a time, several came down as expected, and I had killed one, when I heard the report 
of my friend’s gun. I was wondering what he had killed, when he appeared with a beam¬ 
ing countenance. 
He pushed the prow of the skiff into the reeds that grew at my feet, and in reply 
to my question, “What have you got?” held up a Kite that I recognized at once as the 
same species that I had vainly endeavored to obtain upon a former visit to this place. It 
was an adult male and Mr. Ilenshaw stated that he had seen another. Upon hearing this, 
the Anhingas were forgotten and leaping into the boat, we pushed off. As vve approached 
the spot where I had seen the bird before we perceived one sitting on a bush. By care¬ 
fully pushing along the marshy banks of (he tortuous stream under cover of the high grass, 
we came within gun-shot, and a second Kite was giving its death straggle in the top of 
the bush. Just at this moment we saw another coming, and its attention being attracted 
by the motions of the one already shot, it hovered over it a moment, then as it received a 
charge of shot, sailed gracefully downward and fell in the dense grass only a short distance 
from us. ( 
I immediately left the boat, entered the grass, sinking to my knees in water and thus 
easily secured the first Kite that proved to be another adult male. The second required a 
longer search, and I experienced considerable difficulty in making my way through the 
dense, growth of grass upon such an insecure footing, for the bottom was not only submerged 
but also quite spongy. After a time, however, I found the Kite, and was turning to 
