KITES 281 



capable of grasping. Young, covered with 

 down when hatched, helpless and fed by 

 parents. Females, larger than males. 



274. SWALLOW TAILED KITE. 



Large, 22; form, slender; tail, deeply 

 forked; black above; head and lower parts, 

 white, fig. 219. Breeds in U. S. from N. C. 

 and Minn, southward, goes south in Oct. to 

 winter in S. A., north in April; casual in 

 southern N. E. Flight, swallow-like, very 

 graceful and easy. Food, chiefly snakes and 

 other reptiles, which it catches by swooping 

 downward and, grasping them w^ith its 

 claws, eats them as at flies. Nests in trees; 

 eggs, 4-6, green-white marked with brown. 



275. MISSISSIPPI KITE. 



Smaller, 14; head, neck and beneath, 

 ashy; back, black; longitudinal stripe on 

 each wing (showing in flight), chestnut; 

 white wing bar, fig. 220. Southern U. S. 

 from S.C. southward; casual north toPenn., 

 Wis. and la. Winters in Guatemala. 



