SWALLOW-TAILED HAWK. 



(Falcofurcatus, Lin. Audubon, pi. 72. [descending with a snake in 

 liis talons.] Wilson, Am. Orn. vi. p. 70. pi. 51. fig. 2. [adult 

 male]. Philad. Museum, No. 142.) 



Spec. Charact. — White; back, wings, and tail black, with green- 

 ish and purple reflections; tail deeply forked. 



This beautiful Kite breeds and passes the summer in 

 the warmer parts of the United States, and is also proba- 

 bly resident in all tropical and temperate America, mi- 

 grating into the southern as well as the northern hemis- 

 phere. In the former, according to Viellot, it is found 

 in Peru, and as far as Buenos Ayres ; and though it is 

 extremely rare to meet with this species as far as the 

 latitude of 40 degrees in the Atlantic states ; yet, tempt- 



