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The Kites are of moderate size with 

 long pointed wings, and more or less 

 forked tails. They have a rather weak 

 bill without any notch ; the tarsus is 

 short, and the claws long and sharp. 



The Buzzard Eagles have a large 

 bill sharply bent near the tip, nostrils 

 oval provided with a membrane above. 

 Wings very long extending beyond 

 the tail. Tail of moderate length, 

 slightly rounded at the end. 



The Sea Eagles are much larger than 

 either of the foregoing. They have the 

 lower tarsus naked all around, and 

 lanceolate feathers on the head and 

 neck. The bill is very large and 

 powerful, and the feet are enormously 

 heavy and strong. The Bald Eagle or 

 American Eagle belongs to this group. 



BLACK-EAEED KITE. 



MILVUS MELANOTIS T. AND S. 



Description. — Length twenty-six 

 inches. 



Beak dark ; cere dull green ; legs 

 greenish ; iris light brownish yellow. 

 Tail forked, tarsus feathered half its 

 length. Auriculars dark brown. Plum- 

 age brown with suggestions of purple 

 reflections, lighter on head and neck 

 where every feather is marked in the 

 center with a black streak. Tail lightly 

 barred with brown. 



The young are generally lighter in 

 color, the tail whitish at its end. 



When flying overhead it is most 

 readily distinguished by the forked tail 

 and a large light spot on the under 

 side of the wing clearly visible in flight. 



Distribution. — S a otwn BuMopo , 

 Siberia, and China generally. A very 

 common resident in the Yangtse Valley. 



