266 ICTINIA MISSJSSIPPIENSIS. 



Mcmhors of tliis genus Imve no ruff, or facial disk, nor are the ear cavities strikingly large. The leg is short and the- 

 tarsus is naked to the heel lie!iinJ,but is slightly feathered in f.-ont. The claws are quite sliort but pointed. Only twa 

 outer quills are noticeably incised on the inner wel)s. 



The trachea is much flattened throughout. The sterno- tracheal is is short, having its origin aljout '25 from the larynx, 

 and there is a slender bronchialis extending over all the half rings, ))ut there are no other laryngeal muscles. The tympan- 

 iform membrane is present and although tliere is a thin os transversale, it does not support a semilunar meml)rane. The 

 walls of the oesophagus are thin; this is at fii-st nearly straight, and is dilated into a crop, then Ls again straight and opens 

 into a rather small proventriculus vs'ith simple, oval glands arranged in a zonular band which measures 1-50 in Mississippi- 

 ensis, from which this and the following dimensions were taken. The stomach is of a medium size, somewhat globular 

 in form, with thin but soft walls, and is lined with a soft membrane. The fold of the duodenum is long, measuring .300,. 

 inclosing a narrow pancreas whicli extends its entire length. The coeca are present but are small. The spleen is an ellip- 

 tical body lying directly on the proventriculus. Both lobes of the liver are short and thick. The heart is large and not. 

 very pointed. Sexes, similar in color. There is but one species within our limits. 



ICTINIA MISSISSIPPIENSIS. 



Mississippi Kite. 



Jclinia Mississippiensis Wilson, Am. Orn.. Ill: 1811, 80. 



DESCIUPTION. 



Sp. Cn. Form, rather robust. Size, medium. Sternum, rather stout, with the marginal indentations varying with 

 age. Tongue, short, not very fleshy, and about thesauie width for nearly its entire length, then gradually rounded and bi- 

 fid. Tail, square and sliglitly einarginate. Wings, very long. 



Color. Adult. Head and neck all around, under portions, including under wing coverts, under tail coverts, and tib- 

 ia, dark bluish-ash. Remainder of upper portions, including wings, upper tail coverts, and tail, l)laek, glossed with green. 

 There is a longitudinal stripe extending over the middle portion of each primary, occupying the whole of the inner web and 

 part of the outer, of bright chestnut. The tips of the secondaries are ashy-white. Lores and the narrow ring around eye,, 

 black. 



Young. Jlixed with dull rufous and white above. Head and under parts, yellowish-white, with longitudinal stripes 

 of reddish-brown, which are darker and more numerous on the head, and brighter and broader on the abdomen. 



Nestlings. Are at first covered with a yellowish down, then gradually assume the plumage last described. Bill and 

 cere, bluish, iris, rubj'-red, feet, orange, in all stages. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



There appears to be but little variation in specimens of the same age. Known from all other species which occur with- 

 in our limits by the square tail, taken in connection with the peculiar, bright chestnut markings on the primaries, and the 

 other colors as described. Distrihutel, as a commou summer resident, up the Missisiippi Valley as far as Southern Illi- 

 nois. Rare in Florida and other Eastern Southern States, north as far as South Carolina. Winters in Central and South 

 America. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of male .specimens from Southern United States. Length, 14-00; stretch, 36'00; wing, ITOO; tail, 

 fi'OO; bill, '95; tarsus, r75. Longest specimen, 14'50; greatest extent of wing, 3j'50; longest wing, 1150; tail, fi'50; bill, 

 1 00; tarsus, 1 80. Shortest specimen, IS'OO; smallest extent of wing, 35-00; shortest wing, lO'SO; tail, 5 50; bill, '85; tar- 

 sus, 1-60. 



Average measurements of female specimens from Southern United States. Length, IS'OO; stretch, 35-00; wing, 11-50; 

 tail, 6-50; bill, I'OO; tarsus, 1-85. Longest specimen, 15-50; greatest extent of wing, 36-75; longest wing, 11-60; tail, 7-00; 

 bill, 1-10; tarsus, 1-95. Shortest specimen, 14-50; smallest extent of wing, 35-50; shortest wing, 11-40; tail, 6-00; bill, -95; 

 tarsus, 1-80. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, placed in trees. They are composed of sticks, carelessly arranged, intermingled with bunches of Spanish moss 

 and lined with strips of bark and leaves. 



Eggs, two or ttiree in number, rather spherical in form, greenish-white in color, thickly spotted and blotcl ed with deep 

 chocolate-brown and black. Dimensions from l-30x 150 to 1-32x1-52. 



