FALCONHXaE DIURNAL RAPTORES. 449 



bordered with ochraceous white, and with concealed quadrate spots of the same ; pri- 

 mary coverts, secondaries, and primaries sharply bordered terminally with pure white. 

 Tail black (faintly whitish at tip), with three (exposed) indistinct bands of 'a more slaty 

 tint ; this changing to white on the inner webs, in the form of angular spots forming the 

 bands. Lining of the wing pale ochraceous, transversely spotted with rusty rufous; 

 under primary coverts with transverse spots of white. Wing, 11. 90; tail, 6.40. 



Six adult males measured as follows: Wing, 10.16-11.85; tail, 

 6.00-8.80 ; culmen, .60-.65 ; tarsus, 1.35-1.55 ; middle toe, 1.00-1.10. 



Five adult females: Wing, 11.80-12.30; tail, 6.50-8.00; culmen, 

 .60-.65; tarsus, 1.30-1.40; middle toe, 1.00-1.05. 



This neat and spirited falcon-like Kite is not an uncommon bird 

 in some localities of the southern portion of the State. It is fre- 

 quently an associate of the Swallow-tail, which it rivals in the 

 gracefulness of its flight and even excels in swiftness. In August, 

 1871, it was very plentiful on Fox Prairie. It was usually observed 

 sailing about, far above the Swallow-tails, but now and then half 

 closing the wings and pitching nearly straight downward with the 

 velocity of an arrow, as if to strike the earth ; but by a sudden ex- 

 tension of the wings instantly checking its rapid descent and re- 

 mounting, by a steep angle, almost to the height from which it 

 had started, the whole of the downward and upward courses un- 

 accompanied by a single motion of the wings. This performance 

 was sufficiently startling when done by a single bird; but when 

 several plunged headlong simultaneously, their tracks crossing one 

 another at various angles, the effect was impressive to an extreme 

 degree. 



Regarding his experience, in the vicinity of Cairo, Mr. Nelson 

 writes as follows (Butt. Essex Inst., IX., 1877, p. 58) : 



"Their power of sight is truly wonderful. I saw them repeatedly 

 dart with unerring aim upon some luckless grasshopper, from an 

 elevation of at least one hundred yards. 



"No less remarkable in their power of flight. I repeatedly saw them 

 dart down from a great height with such a velocity that it would 

 seem an impossibility for them to escape being dashed to pieces on 

 the ground, but instead, when within a few feet of the earth, they 

 would suddenly spread their wings and the reaction would lift them 

 with almost equal rapidity to about one half their former elevation. 

 They were so shy that it was impossible to get within gunshot of them." 



Audubon regards this species as remarkable for its devotion to 



its young, and narrates that in one instance he saw the female bird 



lift up and attempt to carry out of his reach one of her fledglings. 



She carried it in her claws a distance of thirty-five yards or more. 



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