SWALLOW-TAILED KIT£. 2fi5 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, pliu'cd in Iiig'i trees. They are m^t very bulky structures and are composed of sticks, twigs, and Spanish moss, 

 lined \vit!i weeds, grass, etc. 



D/ijs. four to six in number, rather oval in form, white or grecnisli-wliite in color, spotted and blotched irregularly 

 .with brown and umber of varying shades. Dimensions from r48x I'ST to I'SOx 1"U0. 



IIABHS. 



About the first week in April, in the more southern portions of Florida, and a little 

 Liter ill the more northern sections, quantities of Swallow-tailed Kites may be seen cours- 

 i.:.": tlirough the air. They come like the Swallows; first a solitary individual appears, then 

 ;! fjw more, until, at length, they are to be seen in all directions, often in coiupanies of a 

 dr.zen cr more. It is, pcrhtips, difQcult to find more graceful birds on the wing than these 

 KiiOs and their elegant aLrial gyrations do not fail to attract the attention of even the c.-is- 

 u'll observer. Not only in migrating do they resemble the Swallows but, as their ntime 

 implies, in f )rui, and also in flight; for they circle high over head, at such a giddy height 

 thtit they appear like mere specks against the blue sky, when their long, broadly expanded 

 t ;il is scarcely visible; then something below attracts their attention, so down they come, 

 only to glide smoothly and swiftly over the tree tops. Their flight, when near the surface 

 of the ground, is particuhirly noticeable, for although they move in a sinuous course and 

 frequcntl}' double upon their (racks, all these evolutions are performed with a graceful ease 

 which is seldom excelled by other birds. They have an object in thus traversing about, 

 over the tops of the shrubbery, for they maybe observed to swoop suddenly downward, 

 pause a moment, almost on the ground, then mount quickly upward, bearing a writhing 

 snake in their talons. This they eat as they fly, bending the head downward to secure 

 each mouthful; thus devouring the entire reptile quite leisurely while sailing quietly about 

 in ever broadening circles, until the meal is finished. 



Tb - Swallow-tailed Kites appear to spend the greater portion of their time upon the 

 wing and even when gathering material for the nest, they do not alight but fly through 

 the trees and pluck off twigs or pick up bunches of Spanish moss. They present a sin- 

 gular appearance when carrying this latter nan:cd material which, in Florida, is largely 

 used in the composition of the nest, and I once saw one witli such tilong piece that it trailed, 

 for at least two yards, behind the Kite as she flew swiftly through the air. 



Nest building, with these beautiful Kites, begins, in Florida, about the first week in 

 May ami the domiciles arc placed in the tops of high pines or oaks which grow in situtitions 

 remote from settlements; thus the eggs are quite rare in collections. The young make 

 thjir appearance in due course, are ctirefuUy reared by their parents, and in etirly autumn, 

 they idl dep;irt for the South, passing quite out of the country to spend the winter in the 

 Tropics. 



GENUS IV. ICTINIA. THE PKAIRIE KITES. 



Gen. Cii. Bill, short, broad, well curved, with the cuttinij edrje ofvpjjrr mandible, lobrd. Tarsvs. not long and nearly 

 naked. Tail, square and sliijlitl:/ emaryinale, not exceed in^j in tcni/th one half the Icnylh of the win(js wluch arc considerably 

 elonyated. There is no ruff on the face. 



