FALCONID^ — THE FALCONS. 207 



prairies ; but it is not initil the hottest weather of July and August that it 

 becomes very abundant, at this time feeding chiefly upon the large insects 

 which swarm among the rank prairie herbage. Its particular food is a very 

 large species of Cicada, though grasshoppers, and occasionally small snakes 

 (as tire species of Eutwnia, Leptophis mstivus, etc.), also form part of its 

 food. Its prey is captured by sweeping over the object and picking it up in 

 passing over, both the bill and feet being used in grasping it ; the food is 

 eaten as the bird sails, in broad circles, overhead. Mr. Kidgway describes 

 the flight of this Kite as powerful and graceful in the extreme, and accompa- 

 nied by beautiful and unusual evolutions. 



According to Mr. Audubon, the nest of tliis species is always placed in 

 the npper branches of the tallest trees. It resembles a dilapidated Crow's 

 nest, and is constructed of sticks slightly put together, Spanish moss, strips 

 of pine bark, and dry leaves. The eggs are three in number, nearly globu- 

 lar, and are described by Mr. Audubon as of a light greenish tint, blotched 

 thickly over with deep chocolate-brown and black ; but the eggs thus de- 

 scribed are those of some totally different species. 



The same writer mentions that a pair of these Hawks, whose nest was 

 visited by a negro sailor, manifested the greatest displeasure, and continued 

 flying with remarkable velocity close to the man's head, screaming, and dis- 

 playing the utmost rage. 



The description given by Mr. Audubon of the egg of this species, and 

 also that in my North American Oology, of the drawing of an egg said 

 to be of this bird, taken in Louisiana by Dr. Trudeau, do not correspond 

 with an egg in the cabinet of the Boston Society of Natural History, 

 formerly in that of the late Dr. Henry Bryant. This egg measures 1.50 

 inches in length by 1.32 in breadth, is very nearly globular, but is also 

 much more rounded at one end, and tapering at the other. It is entirely 

 unspotted and of a uniform chalky whiteness, with an underlying tinge of a 

 bluish green. It was found by Mr. C. S. McCarthy in the Indian Territory, 

 on the north fork of the Canadian Eiver, June 25, 1861. The nest was 

 made of a few sticks, and was in the fork of a horizontal branch, fifteen feet 

 from the ground. There were two eggs in the nest. 



It was also found breeding by Mr. J. H. Clark at Trout Creek, Indian 

 Territory, June 21, and by Dr. E. Palmer at the Kiowa Agency (S. I. 

 13,534). 



Genus ROSTRHAMUS, Lesson. 



Jiostrhamus, Less. 1831. (Type, Falco hamatus, Illig. ) 



Gen. Char. Wings and tail large, the latter emarginated. Bill very narrow, the 

 upper mandible much elongated and bent, the tip forming a strong pendent hook ; lower 

 mandible drooping terminally, the gonys straight ; the upper edge arched, to correspond 

 with the concavity of the regular commissure. Nostril elongate-oval, horizontal. Tarsus 



