SWALLOW-TAILED KITE. 67 
Rio Colorado, on the 26th of May, but, on shooting and dissecting them, 
found that they had not at that date commenced breeding. Preparations 
for nidification were, however, in progress; and from what he observed of 
their habits, he suggests that they may possibly breed in society—a fact 
not at all unlikely when we bear in mind the gregarious habits of the bird. 
He was told that the birds in Texas built high up in the oak, sycamore, 
or cotton-wood trees. He did not at that time succeed in obtaining eggs, 
but has since received them through Mr. Henry Buckley, and most kindly 
lent them for use in the present work—probably the first authentic spe- 
cimens of the eggs of this bird which have been figured. Two specimens 
taken in Iowa differ considerably : the first is decidedly an Osprey type of 
egg; the second is very pale bluish white, irregularly and sparmgly marked 
with minute specks and one or two larger spots of rich reddish brown ; 
the shell resembles that of a Harrier in grain, and possesses no gloss 
whatever. They vary from 1°9 to 1°95 inch in length, and from 1°5 to 
1:47 inch in breadth. Mr. Buckley’s correspondent asserts that the eggs 
are usually two in number—a statement at variance with Audubon’s. 
The colours of this very handsome bird are in bold contrast and decided. 
The head and neck all round, the rump, and the whole of the underparts 
are white, the remainder of the plumage bemg black with blue and purple 
reflections. Cere pale blue; irides red (but Audubon describes them as 
black) ; feet dirty bluish white according to Audubon, but yellow according 
to Wilson ; claws white or flesh-coloured. Male and female do not differ 
in external characters, save that the latter bird is more robust and slightly 
larger. 
F2 
