LAND BIRDS. 261 



tlie possession of Mr. Herbert Randall of Ann Arbor, but we have not been 

 able to examine either specimen. The record of a Grand Rapids specimen 

 by Professor Cook was partly incorrect; Mr. Stew^art E. White, to whom the 

 capture was credited, merely recorded seeing a specimen. He says: 

 "Identified while on the wing, but I think his peculiar shape and color- 

 ation leave slight room for doubt." Dr. Atkins, of Locke, reported it as 

 "a rare summer resident," but there can be little doubt that this was a 

 mistake. 



The bird is a southern species, nowhere common, and not likely to occur 

 except as an extremely rare wanderer in southern Michigan. The nest 

 is placed on trees, usually near the water, and the eggs, which average 

 1.71 by 1.31 inches, are "handsomely marbled or clouded with various 

 shades of rich madder brown on a paler, sometimes whitish, ground" 

 (Ridgway). 



Its food is similar to that of the Swallow-tailed Kite, and recent observers 

 do not confirm Audubon's statement that it sometimes feeds on small 

 birds. 



TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 



Adult: Under parts pure white; upper parts bluish gray, bleaching to pure white 

 on the head; a black spot in front of the eye; tail pure white; shoulders (lesser wing-coverts) 

 deep black, rest of wing bluish white above, pure white below. Young: More or less 

 rusty and brown-streaked above; tail crossed by an indistinct dark band near tip; wing- 

 feathers tipped with white. Length 15.15_to 16.75 inches; wing 11.50 to 13.30; tail 5.90 

 to 7.40. 



133. Mississippi Kite. Ictinia mississippiensis (Wils.). (329) 



Synonyms: Blue Kite. — Falco misisippiensis, Wils., 1811. — Faico plumbeus, Aud., 

 1831. — Ictinia plumbea, Bonap., Nutt. 



Known from other kites by its bluish-gray color, becoming lighter or 

 nearly white on the head, and darkening almost to black on wings and tail. 



Distribution. — Southern United States, east of the Rocky Mountains: 

 southward regularly from South Carolina on the coast, to Guatemala, and 

 casually north to Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Iowa. 



The title of this bird to a place in the Michigan list appears to rest on a 

 specimen said to have been taken in Cass county many years ago, and 

 recorded in the manuscript list of the birds of the state by D. D. Hughes. 

 This specimen is said to have been preserved, but we have been unable 

 to get any trace of it. The species is mentioned also in Stockwell's Forest 

 and Stream list where it is said to be "rare in Michigan." 



The Mississippi Kite, like several of its relatives, often occurs in flocks 

 and is a tireless and graceful flyer. Its food consists "of insects such as 

 the larger beetles, grasshoppers and locusts, lizards, small snakes, and 

 frogs. It never has been known to molest birds or mammals" (A. K. 

 Fisher). 



It nests in the tops of very tall trees, laying two or three nearly white 

 eggs, sometimes faintly marked with pale Ijrown, and averaging 1.G3 l)v 

 1.32 inches. 



TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION, 



Adult: Uniform bluish-gray or lead color, becoming lighter on head and darker on 

 wings and tail; inner webs of outer wing-feathers partly rufous. A bhickish spot in front 

 of the eye. Iris red; legs and feet dull red. Young: Similar, but streaked and spotteil 

 with brown below, and the tail with three or more narrow bands of gray or grayish white. 

 Length 13 to 15.50 inches; wing 10.60 to 12..30; fail 6 to 7. 



