THE MISSISSIPPI KITE. 



53 



The very great proportionate length of its wings may account for this habit ; the entire 

 length of the body and tail being only fourteen inches, while the expanse of wing equals three 

 feet. Being possessed of such power of flight, it emulates the swallow-tailed falcon in many 

 of its evolutions, and in a similar manner is fond of sweeping rapidly past a branch, and 

 snatching from the leaves a choice locust or beetle without checking its progress. Like that 

 bird it also feeds while on the wing, holding its prey in its claws and transferring it to ita 

 mouth without needing to settle. In character it seems to be a most fierce and courageous 

 bird, as may be gathered from a short narrative given by Wilson of one of these birds which 

 he had shot. 



"This Hawk, though wounded and precipitated from a vast height, exhibited in his dis- 

 tress symptoms of great strength, and an almost unconquerable spirit. I no sooner approached 

 to pick him up, than he instantly gave battle, striking with his claws, wheeling round and 



MISSISSIPPI KITE. Ictinia mMssippleruAt. 



SWALLOW-TAILED FALCON. Nauderut forjlcatui. 



round as he lay partly on his rump, and defending himself with great vigilance and dexterity, 

 while his dark-red eye sparkled with rage. Notwithstanding all my caution in seizing him to 

 carry him home, he stuck his hind claw into my hand with such force as to penetrate into the 

 bone. Anxious to preserve his life, I endeavored gently to disengage it ; but this made him 

 only contract it the more powerfully, causing such pain that I had no alternative but that of 

 cutting the sinew of his heel with my penknife. 



"The whole time he lived with me, he seemed to watch every movement I made, erecting 

 the feathers of his broad head, and eyeing me with savage fierceness ; considering me no doubt 

 as the greater savage of the two. What effect education might have had on this species under 

 the tutorship of some of the old European professors of falconry, I know not ; but if extent of 

 wing and energy of character, and ease and rapidity of flight, could have been any recom- 

 mendation to royal patronage, this species possesses all these in a very eminent degree." 



The attention of Mr. Wilson was greatly taken with these birds, and he on several occa- 

 sions opened the stomachs of those which he had shot, in order to discover the food on whica 



