288 
ROSTRHAMUS S0CIAB1L1S. 
go back, when I discovered a partly completed nest a short distance from me, that was 
without doubt owned by one of the birds just killed. It was small, flat in form, composed 
of sticks somewhat carelessly arranged, and was placed on the top of the grass which sup- 
ported it and which grew so luxuriantly at this point that it bore me up as I was endeavor¬ 
ing to reach the nest. Although disappointed at not obtaining eggs, we were,much pleased 
at having procured three birds, the last of which proved to be a young male. 
The twenty fourth of March found Mr. Ilenshaw and myself once more in the Ever¬ 
glades, searching for Kites. We had killed two males and a female, when upon picking up 
the latter, I found that she was incubating. Before shooting her she had behaved strange¬ 
ly, and I was certain that she had eggs near, therefore I commenced a long, systematic 
search, during which time I was obliged to exercise great caution to avoid treading upon 
water moccasins, for they were very abundant, but at last I discovered the nest in a mag¬ 
nolia bush. It was placed about four feet from the water, was quite flat, about a foot in 
diameter, was composed of sticks quite carelessly arranged, lined with a few dry heads of 
saw-grass, and contained one egg. Upon dissecting the female we found an egg just ready 
to be laid, but unspotted, being blue in color throughout. 
Previous to this time we had become acquainted with the Seminoles. The knowl¬ 
edge which these people possess of Natural History is surprising, inasmuch as they prob¬ 
ably never saw a naturalist, and if they had would not have learned much from him, for 
they speak but little English. Among those particularly noticeable was Tiger Tail, the 
son of a renowned chief of the same name who so bravely withstood the whites during the 
last Seminole wars. Tiger, as we familiarly called him, was a stalwart, finely formed man, 
about thirty years of age, with a handsome, expressive countenance, and bright, intelli¬ 
gent looking eyes. Besides being a man of influence in his tribe he was a fine hunter, and 
his wigwam never lacked venison. He not only knew the different mammals of the coun¬ 
try, but also readily distinguished and named the various species of birds that we showed 
him. Every one, excepting a few of the smaller Warblers that only winter in Florida, 
had its Seminole name. Even insects were known by particular appellations, and Tiger 
has frequently showed me the chrysalis of some butterfly or moth and afterwards pointed 
out, in my collection, the species that came from it. 
The Everglade Kite was at once recognized as So-for-fun-i-car, and its place of res¬ 
idence said to be Pi-i-o-kee. We explained to Tiger that we were anxious to procure 
So-for-fun-i-car sos-ta-kar (Kites’ eggs) and he promised to look out for them. The oth¬ 
er Indians, who visited us and exhibited much interest in our pursuits were also made to 
understand that we wanted eggs. 
After discovering the nest, as narrated, we were slowly returning homewards, when 
we perceived a Black-necked Stilt standing on the margin of the river, near the rapids. 
We shot at it and as the report of our guns rang out we heard the friendly whoop of an In¬ 
dian. We were accustomed to this cry and immediately answered it, then turning in the 
direction from whence the sound came we saw a canoe containing the lithe form of a Sem¬ 
inole glide out from a neighboring cypress swamp and as he came rapidly toward us we 
recognized Billy, a son-in-law of the old chief Ellick. When he came near enough for us 
