KITES. 297 



Anotlicr European sjiceics is the black kite, Milvns migrans, wliieh also cxtciuls all 

 over Africa. This is of smaller size, darker jphmiage, and the tail is less doejdy 

 forked. Other species are the Aral)ian kite, ^^. a fjtjplius, of Africa, and the pariah 

 kite, M. govinda, of India. These four are all ijuite similar in general ajipearance 

 and hahits. They are very active birds, spendinji much of the time on the wing, 

 feeding j)riiicipally on small mammals, reptiles, and insects, to which diet several 

 species add \\>\\, w bile all are much aiUlicted to such refuse as may be jiicked up about 

 liuman liabitalions. Indeed the pariah kite of India does valuable service of this kind 

 directly in the towns and villages of the country, earning thus its eoininon name of 

 village kite. In catching fish and frogs, a favorite habit of the black kite, the bird 

 glides down to the water and .seizes with a thrust of tiie foot one which has risen to 

 the surface, rarely if ever plunging into the water in the manner of the osi>rey. 

 Milvus isurus is a very closely allied but crested form, inhabiting Australia. 



Turning now to the less typical members of the sub-family, we may notice first the 

 beautiful little black-winged kites {Elanus) of the warmer parts of both Old and New 

 Worlds. Several species arc usually recognized, but all are so similar to each other 

 that it would be diflicidt to discriminate between them at gunshot range. They are 

 seldom more than fifteen inches in length, of which nearly lialf is tail, and the body 

 color is either white or very light gray, sometimes silvery or ]carly, while the .shoulders 

 are always black. They feed mostly on insects and some of the smallest rejitiles and 

 mammals. The black-winged kite, Elanus ccerulevs, of Africa and southern Europe, 

 may be taken as the tyjie. The only American species is the very similar white-tailed 

 or black-shouldered kite, Ehi/ius ki/ciiri(s. A very different yet related bird is the 

 Mississippi kite, Icthiia subcartdea {7711 ssissip^nen sis), which is rather smaller, and 

 readily distinguish:ible by the decidedly darker general color, with the larger ])art of 

 the wings and tail lilack, the latter with spots on the inner webs of the feathers. 



Unquestionably the most beautiful bird of the group is the swallow-tailed kite, 

 Elauoides forfiadus, of tlie w.armer ]iarts of America, extending up the Mississippi 

 valley even to Minnesota. Tlie beautiful black and white plumage, extremely long 

 and slehder-jiointed wings, and deeply forked tail, suffice for the recognition of this 

 bird at a single glance. It is one of the two largest American kites, its length from 

 bill to tij) of tail Ijcing about two feet, while the wings expand rather over four feet. 

 The head, neck, and entire under parts are jpure white; tlie back, wings, and tail, 

 lustrous black ; the rump with a white patch. Its flight is umivalled in swiftness and 

 grace, and it usually takes its prey, consisting largely of insects, on the wing, tearing 

 .and swallowing it as it flies. Occasionally, however, when cajituring a snake or lizard, 

 it may be seen to alight for an instant. It nests in trees, laying several spotted eggs, 

 but these are rare in collections, and the nesting habits of the species are but imper- 

 fectly known. It frecjuently associates in large numbers, while feeding on insects and 

 while migrating, ami there is some reason to suppose that it may occasionally breed 

 in communities, though during the breeding-season it is usually met witli only in 

 l>airs. 



While traveling among the mountains of Guatemala, Mr. W. f>wcn observed a 

 large flock — more th.an two Inmdred — of these birds engaged in the pursuit of 

 a swarm of bees, which they caught singly with their feet, and, bringing the foot for- 

 ward and bending the head downwanls and backwards to meet it, tliey easily and 

 rapidly transferrer! the prey to the bill. 



A closely allied, fork-tailed sj.ecies is the yauchnm rlncoiiri of west Afric.i, a bird 



