154 



North American Birds Eggs. 



I 



[Bluish white. 

 326. Black Vulture; Carrion Crow. Catharista urtibx. 



RaniTf. — More soiitlnM-ly than the preceding: north reguhirly to North Caro- 

 lina and southern Illinois, and west to the Rocky Mountains. 



This species is of ai)out the same size, or slightly smaller than the Turkey 

 Vulture: its plumage is entirely black as is also the naked head, and bill. In 

 the South Atlantic and Gulf States, the present species is even more abundant 

 than the preceding, and might even be said to be partially domesticated. The 

 nesting habits are the same as those of the Turkey Buzzard but their eggs 

 average longer and the ground color is pale greenish or bluish white ratherthan 

 creamy. They are sjxitted and blotcheil the same. Size ^t.OO x 2.00. 



FALCONS, HAWKS AND EAGLES. Family FALCONID/E. 



The members of this family are chiefly diurnal; they get their living by 

 preying upon smaller animals or birds. They have strong, sharply hooked 

 bills, powerful legs and feet armed with strong, curved and sharply pointed 

 talons. 



32 7. Swallow-tailed Kite. Elaiioides forficatus. 

 Range. — Southern United States; casually north to New York and to Manitoba. 



This most beautiful Kite can never be 

 mistaken for any other; its whole head, neck 

 and underparts are snowy white, while the 

 back, wings and tail are glossj' blue black, 

 the wings being very long and the tail long 

 and deeply forked. The extreme length of 

 the bird is 24 inches. As a rule nests of 

 this bird are placed high up in the tallest 

 trees; they are made of sticks, weeds and 

 moss. Two eggs, or rarely three, constitute 

 a full set. They are white or bluish white, 

 spotted with brown. The one figured is an 

 unusually handsome marked specimen in 

 the collection of Mr. C. W. Crandall. Aver- 

 age size of eggs, 1.80 x 1.50. Data. — Yegna 

 Creek bottoms, Texas, April 27, 1891. 2 

 eggs. Nest of sticks and green moss, the 



same moss also being used for lining; in an elm tree 80 feet up. Collector, J. 



A. Single}'. 



, White.] 



