FALCONID.E DIURNAL RAPTORES. 445 



wing, and tail plain polished blackish, with varying reflections; tertials white, with 

 blackish tips. Adult. The white of the head and neck immaculate; back, scapulars and 

 lesser wing-coverts with a soft reflection of dark purplish bronze, the other black por- 

 tions with a glaucous or chalky cast, with a green reflection in certain lights. Young. 

 Feathers of the head and neck with dusky shaft-streaks; the black above less glossy, 

 more brownish, a bottle-green reflection replacing the soft purplish bronze on the back 

 and shoulders; remiges. rectrices, and primary coverts with a narrow terminal border 

 of white. 



There is little variation in the coloration of this beautiful species, 

 the only one presenting differences particularly noticeable being No. 

 56,099 (said to be from England), in which the black in its entire 

 extent is nearly uniform, and glossed with a uniform violaceous 

 slate. This appearance, however, is probably caused by the greater 

 age of the feathers. 



The fresh colors of an adult male, shot at Mt. Carmel, Illinois, 



August 1, 1870, were as follows: 



if 



"Bill deep black, the basal half of the lower mandible, the basal portion of the upper 

 beneath the cere, the cere, rictus, and naked eyelids, plumbeous blue; feet similar but 

 paler; claws grayish brown: iris very dark brown; interior of the mouth bright cobalt- 

 blue." (No. 84,480. male, Mt. Carmel, 111., Aug. 1,1870. Length.22.75; extent, 50. 80.) 



In former years common throughout the State, and in some por- 

 tions even at times abundant, this, the most graceful of all the 

 birds of prey, is becoming scarcer every year. In the northeastern 

 portion of the State it was once common, according to Mr. Kenni- 

 cott, but at the time he wrote* (1854) it had become rare; while 

 in 1876, Mr. Nelson sayst that he can testify to its scarcity, "only 

 two or three instances of its occurrence within the last twenty 

 years having been ascertained." It feeds with the greatest ease 

 while flying, the food being held in the feet, which are reached 

 gently forward at the same moment the bird's head is lowered to 

 tear a mouthful from the object that is being eaten. 



GENUS ELANTJS SAVIGNY. 



Elanus SAVIGN. Desc. de 1'Egypte, 1809, 284. Type Falco melanoptprus"Di.UT>.,=F. 

 coeruleus DESF. 



GEN. CHAK. Bill rather small, very wide basally, much compressed anteriorly, the 

 tip well produced; lower mandible declinate, obliquely truncated, its tomium greatly 

 arched; superior tomium somewhat "bulged" laterally, and slightly sinuated; gonys 

 straight, or very slightly convex. Nostrils roundish, or oval and horizontal, in middle 



* Illinois Agricultural Report, 1853-54. 

 t Bull. Essex Inat.. viii, 1876. p. 118. 



