FALCON ID^E. 1C TIN I A MISSISSIPPIENSIS. 41 



Gilliss, 1 from which we learn that the nest is composed of small sticks, and that the 

 female lays from four to six eggs, of a dirty white, with brownish spots. 



ICTINIA MISSISSIPPIENSIS. 



Falco mississippiensis, WILS. Am. Orn. Ill, 1812, 80. 

 Falco plumbeus, BONAP. Syn. 1828, p. 90. 



" NUTTALL, Manual, I, 1S32, 92. 



" " AUD. Orn. Biog. II, 1835, 108; V, 374, pi. cxvii. 



Ictinia plumlea, BONAP. Geog. and Comp. List, 1838, p. 4. 

 AUD. Synopsis, 1839, p. 90. 



" Birds of Am. I, 1840, 73, pi. xvii. 



Ictinia mississippiensis, CASSIN, Syn. N. A. Birds (Illust. Birds of Cal.), 1854, p. 106. 

 Falco ophiophagus, VIEILL. Nouv. Diet. XI, 1817, 103. 



VULG. The Mississippi Kite, 



THE extent of the localities visited by this species is not well ascertained. The 

 Ictinia pluml>ea of South America, with which it has been confounded, has been 

 ascertained to be quite a distinct species. This leaves us without any present means 

 of ascertaining how far its distribution may extend beyond Central America. It is 

 found in the Southern States, from South Carolina south and west, but is most abun- 

 dant about the Mississippi River. It was first discovered by Wilson, near Natchez, 

 where he found it quite abundant. Mr. Say afterwards observed it far up the Mis- 

 sissippi, at one of Major Long's cantonments. In Captain Sitgreave's expedition 

 to the Zuni and Colorado Rivers, it was found exceedingly abundant in Eastern 

 Texas, as well as in the Indian Territory, more particularly on the Arkansas River 

 and its tributaries. 



According to Mr. Audubon, the nest of this species is always placed in the upper 

 branches of the tallest trees. It resembles a dilapidated Crow's nest, and is con- 

 ^structed of sticks slightly put together, Spanish moss, strips of pine bark, and dry 

 leaves. The eggs are three in number, nearly globular, and are described by Mr. 

 Audubon as of a light greenish tint, blotched thickly over with deep chocolate- 

 brown and black. 



The same writer mentions that a pair of these Hawks, whose nest was visited by 

 a negro sailor, manifested the greatest displeasure, and continued flying Avith re- 

 markable velocity close to the man's head, screaming and displaying the utmost rage. 



Having only a drawing, and without access to any authenticated specimen, I cannot 



1 The eggs of this Hawk remain desiderata, and for the present our knowledge of their peculiarities 

 is limited to the above very brief description. My friend Lieutenant Gilliss has, however, very kindly 

 exerted himself to procure me specimens from Chile, while other friends in California hold out similar 

 hopes. I trust that I may be able, in a supplementary number, to illustrate not only the eggs of this 

 species, but also those of several others of this family, in regard to which nothing is now positively 

 known. 



6 



