North American Birds Eggs- 



155 



328. White-tailed Kite. Elanus Iciicurus. 



Ran^e. — Southern United States, north to the Car<jlin:i.s, Illinois anil middle 

 California. 



This species can be recognized by its light 

 bluish gray mantle, black shoulders ami white 

 tail. It is a very active species, feeding upon 

 insects and reptiles, and small birtls and 

 mammals. The nests of this species are placed 

 in trees at quite an elevation from tlie ground, 

 being made of sticks, weeds and leaves. The 

 eggs are creamy white, profusely blotched and 

 spotted with reddish brown and umber. Size 

 1.65 X 1.25. Data. — Lbs Angeles, Cal., April 

 1», 1896. Nest in fork of willows about 25 feet 

 up. Made of willow twigs and weed stalks, 

 lined with pieces of bark. Collector, A. M. 

 Shields. This handsome set, with nest, is in 

 the collection of Col. Jolm E. Thayer. 



fCreaniy white.) 



329. Mississippi Kite. Ictinki inississippiensis. 



Range. — Southeastern United States, north to South Carolina and Illinois. 



A small species (length 14 inches) with the 

 -> , heail, neck, and underparts gray, and the back, 



wings and tail l)lackish, the tips of the secon- 

 daries being grayish. They live almost ex- 

 clusivel.y upon insects, such as grasshoppers, 

 and small reptiles. They build their nests of 

 sticks and weeds well up in tall trees. The 

 eggs are two or three in number and normally 

 liluish white, unmarked, but occasionally with 

 very faint spots of pale brown. Size 1.65 

 X 1.25. Data.— Gid<lings, Texas, May 31, 1887. 

 Nest of sticks and weeds, with green pecan 

 leaves in the lining: placeil in the top of a live 

 oak sapling, 20 feet fnjm the ground. Collec- 

 tor, J. A. Singley. 



[Bluish white] 



330. Everglade Kite. Rnstrhamus sociabilis. 

 Range. — South America, north to southern Florida 

 This peculiar species has a long, slender, 

 curved bill, blackish plumage, with white 

 rump and bases of outer tail feather. They 

 teed largely upon snails, both land and water 

 varieties. The}' nest at a low elevation in 

 bushes or under brush, often over the water. 

 The nests are of sticks, weeds and leaves. The 

 three eggs are light greenish white, spotted and 

 splashed with chestnut brown. Size, 

 Data. — Everglades, Fla., Feb. 25, 1898. 3 eggs. 

 Nest in a custard apple tree, 6 feet from the 

 ground, built of twigs, lined with small vine 

 stems and willow leaves. Collector, J. F. 

 Menge. This set is in Mr. CrandalTs collec- 

 tion. 



and Mexico. 



