52 THE RAPTORIAL BIRDS OF IOWA 



Measurements. Length 19.50 to 25.50 inches, wing 15.50 to 

 1775 inches, tail 12.50 to 14.50 inches. 



Range. The greater part of North and South America, breeding 

 in suitable localities from northern United States southward. At 

 present rare in Iowa. Formerly bred locally in the state. 



This beautiful Kite is unique among the Iowa birds of prey in its 

 noticeable swallow-like form, and the grace of its flight. According 

 to Anderson it was formerly "A tolerably common summer resident 

 throughout the state." His further remark that "it is of infrequent 

 occurrence" is confirmed by observations within the last decade. 



It is rarely reported even by trained observers and its descrip- 

 tion by a novice may easily be recognized. 



J. A. Allen in an account written in 1868 speaks of it as "com- 

 mon, often seen in considerable numbers, and generally over or near 

 the timber-skirting streams." He also mentions the nesting of this 

 species near Denison, on Boyer river. 



Mr. M. E. Peck has noted it in Black Hawk and Benton counties 

 where his father, Mr. George D. Peck, secured several sets of eggs 

 previous to 1877. 



Mr. John Cobden, of Cedar Rapids, once witnessed a flight of 

 Swallow-tailed Kites in that vicinity. The birds were moving in a 

 rather compact body, circling in and out, and coming so close to the 

 top of the hill where he was that "they might easily have been 

 knocked down with long poles." On this occasion they seemed not 

 at all shy, and, as it was autumn, they were moving in a southerly 

 direction. 



This Kite not only feeds while on the wing but, like the swallow, 

 drinks while skimming over the surface of the water. 



The nest is usually placed at some distance from the trunk, high 

 among the smaller branches of tall trees. It is rather rudely con- 

 structed of sticks and twigs with a soft lining of such material as 

 may be obtainable. For this purpose the inner bark of cotton- 

 wood trees is sometimes used. The eggs, two or three in number, 

 are white, heavily marked, mostly at the larger end, with rich brown- 

 ish spots. 



It would be interesting to know what have been the factors in re- 

 ducing the numbers of this particular species in Iowa. 



Whether its native shyness during the breeding season, the thin- 

 ning out of the timber, or the increase of fire-arms has been the 

 most important cause is hard to determine. It can scarcely be at- 



