EVERGLADE KITE. 



25 



This species is fully as gregarious as any of the other Kites, and often 

 times may be seen in flocks of twenty or more circling over a favorite 

 hunting ground. It is observed most frequently around the border of 

 woods in the vicinity of water, and is particularly fond of half-cleared 

 ground where dead trees still stand, these being used for perches. 



Its flight is as varied and graceful as that of the Swallow-tailed Kite, 

 is long protracted, and the bird often ascends to so great a height as to 

 bebarely visible. While soaring high in the air its flight simulates that 

 of the turkey buzzard very closely, and as the two birds often are seen 

 together the Kite looks like a miniature of the other. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Front of bare leg covered with large transverse scales; cutting edge 

 of upper bill notched. 



Color: Uniform bluish gray or lead color, becoming lighter on head 

 and darker on wing and tail; inner webs of outer wing feathers partly 

 rufous. 



Length: 13 to 15.50 inches (330 to 393 """) ; extent, 35 to 37 inches 

 (890 to 940 "'"^); wing, 10.60 to 12.30 inches (209 to 312 "'"); tail, G to 

 7 inches (152 to 178 ™«'). 



Table showing the results of examinations of 4 stomachs of the Mississippi Kite (Ictinea 



mississippiensis ) . 



SumiAEY. — Of the 4 stomachs examined all contained insects. 



EVERGLADE KITE. 



Rostrhamus sociabilis. 



This Kite inhabits the whole of tropical America, excepting parts of 

 the West Indies, and passes our southern border 'nto Florida only. 

 Through many parts of the everglades this bird is common, generally 

 associating in flocks of from five to eight or ten individuals. 



Its food, as far as known, consists exclusively of fresh-water univalve 

 mollusks, which it finds among the water plants at the edges of shallow 

 lakes and rivers or the overflowed portions of the everglades. The 

 species it feeds on in Florida {Ampullaria depressa) is of moderate size, 

 the shell being 2 or 3 inches in diameter, and is very abundant in suit- 



