EAGLES, HAWKS, AND KITES 



6l 



parts of its range and it may be as late as June 

 in the northern districts. 



liefore mij^ratiiiLj these Kites asseml)le in small 

 companies, circlinsj slowly in ascending sjiirals 

 until sometimes out of eye-range like the ma- 

 neuvers of the Red-tailed Hawks before leav- 

 ing us in the autumn. Their call note is a liigli- 



pitched shrill ke wee wee, the first note short, 

 somewhat like the crv of the Broad-winged 

 Hawk. 



The Swallow-tail feeds upon snakes, grass- 

 hoppers, was|) grubs, caterjiillars, lizards, frogs 

 and other small reptiles and he is not known to 

 attack birds or (piadrupeds. R. I. Brasher. 



Dravring by R. I. Brasher 



SWALLOW-TAILED KITE (I nat. size) 

 The most graceful in flight of all North American birds 



WHITE-TAILED KITE 



Elanus leucurus ( ricillot) 



A. O. U. Number 328 



Other Name. — Black-shoulHerecl Kite. 



General Description. — Length. 17 inches. Upper 

 part.s, light blui.sh-ash ; under parts and tail, white. 

 Wings, iiointed and about twice as long as tail and 

 when closed reach nearly to end of tail ; two outer wing- 

 quills notched ; feathers of wings, broad and tips 



obtuse: feet, very small; tarsus, feathered half-way 

 down in front; claws, small, little curved, and not 

 grooved beneath. 



Color. — E.xcept top of head and tail, upper parts, 

 light bluish-ash ; lower parts, top of head, and tail, with 

 the exception of the two center feathers, pure white; 



