444 BIRDS OF ILUN0I9. 



BUB of nearly uniform width, bolne doBtltutc of ornp. nn<l thuR roKomhline thnt of the 

 owls; its walls oxtrcnu-ly thin; slomnr'h vrry lure*'. r<iun<l. slightly i-oiniin-xBod. Its mus- 

 cular i-out very thin, imd oomposcd of a slnclf series of fiiseleull. Intestine short and 

 rather wide; pylorus with three knobs, duodenum formlnca Inop In the usual niauner: 

 no eiDeu; reetum short, with a larne clobuhir dilatation."— M\c(iiLLlVBiV. 



Plerylograithirnl clmractm. "Inner brnneh on the lUKular part distlnet but short; 

 out«r bruneh entirely free. Dorsal portion of the spinal tniet usually lonit."* (XrrzscH.) 

 Contour-feathers with aftcrshafts. Lumbar traet present. Remises, 23. 



Apparently more nearly related to Piriiig, Lcptotloii, nffifrhimoi, 

 and allied forms than to any other genera, the genus ElamAdes yet 

 stands isolated from these hy the absence of many characters com- 

 mon to them, and by the possession of features peculiarly its own. 

 In general external form, it approaches quite nearly the genus 3/i7- 

 rnn, but when compared closely, the two are found to possess no 

 real affinities of sti-ucture. The same is tine of its relationship to 

 Kaaclcriis rlocoiiri, usually placed in the same genus, but which is 

 more intimately related to Ictiiiia, Elaitus, and their aftines. 



The genus contains but a single species, the E. forficatiis, which 

 is peculiar to America, belonging to the tropical and subtropical 

 portions on both sides of the equator. The species is noted for the 

 elegance of its form and the beauty of its plumage, as well as for 

 the unsurpassed easy gracefulness of its flight. 



Elanoides forficatus (Linn.) 



SWALLOW TAILED KITE. 



Popular synonyms. Swallow-tailed Hawk; Fish-tail Hawk; Snake Hawk; Fork-tail 

 Snake Hawk; Mackerel-tail Hawk; White-headed Swallow Kite. 



Falco forficatus Linn. 8. N. ed. 10,1,1758,89. 

 Nauclernsforflcahis KiDOW. 1870.— B. B. & K. Hist. N. Am. B. ill, 187J, 19i-CoUES, B. X. 



W. 1874,332. 

 £?niioirfe.s/o)-/(rn(M.« Coi'ES.Proe. Aead. Xat. S.'i. Phil. 1875,345; 2d Cheek List, 1882, 



No. 493.— BiDOW. Nom. N. Am. B. 1881, No. 420. 

 Falco/urcalus Linn. S. X. ed. 12, i. 17Cti. 129.-WH.3. Am. Orn. vi, 1812. 70, pi. Sl.Ogs. 1,3.— 



AUD. B. Am. fol. ed. 1831. pi. 72; Orn. BIok. I, IS30. 3fi8: v,1839. 37L 

 yaiicleru.i/iircalus Vio. 1835.— AUD, B. .-Vm. i, 1840. 78. pi. 18; Si'nop. 1839, 14.- Cars, in 



Baird's B. N. .A.m. 1X58, ;t6.—BAlBD, Cat. X. Am. B. 1859, No. 34.- CoUES. Key. 1872,211; 



Check List. 1874. Xo. 337. " 



Hab. Whole of tropical and subtropical America, except West Indies; north. casually 

 to Massachusetts and Michigan, more regularly to Maryland, Illinois, lowo. Minnesota, 

 etc. Much more numerous in the Mississippi Valley than east of the .Mleghanles. 



8p. Chab. Wing. 15.40-17.70; tall, 12. 50-14.. 10; culmen. .70-. 80; tarsus. l.lKi-I .30; 

 middle toe, 1.00-1.20. Head, neck, entire lower parts (including lining of the wing and 

 basal half of the secondaries underneath), and band across the rump pure white. Back, 



• XiTzscn gives the above charoeterB of a ffroup In which he includes Mileus regatit, 

 M. ater, and Elanoidet forficatus. 



