FA L COXID.E — MIL \ 'IN.E : KI TES. 



655 



ciliary sliield small, in oue jjiece. Wings of moderate length, ample; 3d quill longest; 2d but 

 little shorter ; 1st quite short, about equal to 6th ; outer 2 emarginate on inner web, and next 

 2 somewhat sinuate. Tail moderate, even or emarginate, the feathers broad to their obtusely 

 rounded ends. Feet short and stout ; tarsus scantily feathered about ^ way down in front, 

 then scutellate, for the rest reticulate; middle toe without claw about as long as tarsus; outer 

 and middle toes connected by a basal web for whole length of basal joint of the latter; inner 

 toe without claw shorter than the outer, with claw hunger, its claw being much larger than 

 that of outer toe, reaching beyond base of middle claw. Soles broad, especially under the hind 

 toe, which is widely margined ; claws short, stout, much curved. A genus of two species, 



Fio. 449. — Left, Mississippi Kite, J nat. siz 



liclit. Suallnu-t.iil.-.l Kit,-, 



(^From Brelim.) 



routined to temperate and trupicil .America; of great volitorial power, spending much of their 

 time on the wing in aerial gyrations; somewhat gregarious like other 3Iilrin(r, and preying 

 uixin the hum])lest (juarry, especially insects and small re])tiles, often feeding from their talons 

 as they sail through the air, after sweeping down upon their prey and seizing it as they pass 

 without staying their Hight. 



I. inississippien'sis. (Lat. of Mississippi. Fig. 44!>.) Mi.-iSissiiM'i Krn:. Adult ^ ^ : 

 General plumage plumbeous or dark ashy-gray, bleaching on head and secondaries, blackeniuir 

 on tail and wings, several primaries more (^) or less (9 ) sufl'iised with chestnut-red on inner 

 web or on both webs. Forehead and tips of seeondaries usually silvery-whitish; concealed 

 white spots on scapulars ; bases of feathers of head and under j»arts Heocy-white. Lores, eye- 



