202 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



thougli nowhere very distinctly apparent, aiipeai-s to be of a tlull white, 

 strongly tinged with a reddish hue. Distributed over the entire egg are 

 broad deep Hashes of a dark niahogany-bruwn, intermingled with others of a 

 similar color, but lighter in shading. These cover the egg more or less com- 

 pletely, in the greater portion of its surface. This egg was taken near Fort 

 Arbuckle, Indian Toiiitory, May 9, 18G1, by .1. II. Clark, Esq., and sent to 

 the Smithsonian Institution. 



Gexus ICTINIA, Vieii.lot. 



IcHnia, Vikii.l. 1816. (Type, Fako mississipjiicnsis, Wilson.) 

 JVcrlus, BoiK, 1826. (Tyix', Falco pliimbca, G.melin.) 

 Paxiloptcryx, K.-vup, 1844. (Same type. ) 



Gkm. Char. Form lalcon-like; the neck .short, wiiig.s long, and pointed, the primaries 

 ami roctrice.s strong and stilT, and the organization robust. Bill short and deep, the com- 

 mis-inrc irregularly toothed, and notched ; gonys very convex, ascending terminally ; cere 

 narrow; nostril very small, nearly circular; feet small, but robust; tarsus about equal to 



33974, f. 32974,?. 



J. plumbea, 



middle toe, with a distinct frontal series of broad transverse soutelhe ; claws rather short, 

 but strongly curved, slightly grooved beneath, their edges .sharp. Third quill longest ; 

 first of variable proportion with the rest. Tail moderate, the feathers wide, broader 

 terminally, and einarginated. 



This genns is peculiar to America, the two most closely related genera 

 being Elanus on the one hand and Harpagus on the other. Its species be- 

 long to the tropical and subtropical regions, one of them (/. plumhea) gener- 

 ally distributed throughout the intertropical portions, the other (/. mississip- 

 2}icn,'ii.'i) peculiar to Mexico and the southern United States. 



In their habits, they are very aerial, like the genus Nmiclerus, sailing for 

 the greater time in broad circles overhead, occasionally performing graceful 

 evolutions as they gyrate about. Like Naudcrus, they are also partially 

 gregarious, and, like it, feed chiefly on insects and small reptiles, which they 



eat Mhile flying. 



Species. 

 Common Characters. Adult. Uniform plumbeous, becoming lighter (whitish) 

 on the head, and darker (blackish) on the primaries and tail. Inner webs of 



