BIRDS OF PREY. 165 



the most savage and disgusting scenes in nature, and truly worthy 

 the infernal bird of Prometheus." 



This Southern vulture is rarely seen in the Middle 

 States, a straggler now and then being recorded, but 

 inland it goes quite as far north. 



As a class the hawks are certainly more attractive 

 than vultures, and there is no more graceful bird, 

 when flying, than the Swallow-tailed Kite, a bird of 

 the " tropical and warm-temperate portions of conti- 

 nental America," and a visitor to the interior States, 

 along the Mississippi River and eastward to Ohio. 

 It is of rare occurrence in Pennsylvania, but is re- 

 corded also of New Jersey and New England. 



The habits of the bird are such that it deserves 

 encouragement, feeding as it does on insects, snakes, 

 lizards, and such forms of animal-life " as must neces- 

 sarily be held in check ;" but the quotation calls for 

 some comment, for both snakes and lizards are ex- 

 tremely useful, the former in keeping down the mice, 

 the latter in destroying insects. It is unfair to over- 

 look the good accomplished by unattractive forms of 

 life. 



According to Wilson, 



"The Swallow-tailed Hawk retires to the south in October, at 

 which season, Mr. Bartram informs me, they are seen in Florida at a 

 vast height in the air, sailing about with great steadiness, and con- 

 tinued to be seen thus passing to their winter-quarters for several 

 days. They usually feed from their claws as they fly along. Their 

 flight is easy and graceful, with sometimes occasional sweeps among 

 the trees, the long feathers of their tail spread out, and each ex- 

 tremity of it used alternately to lower, elevate, or otherwise direct 

 their course." 



The Blue or Mississippi Kite is a bird strictly of 



