FALCONIDJJ. 



FALCONIDJE. 



THE SWALLOW-TAILED KITE. 



Nauclerus furcatus. 



Elanus furcatus, Swallow-tailed Kite, FLEM. Brit. An. p. 52. 



Elanus, SELBY, Brit. Ornith. vol. i. 



p. 77. 



Milvus Kite, JENYNS, Brit. Vert. p. 86. 



Nauclerus GOULD, Birds of Europe. 



NAUCLERUS. Generic Characters. " Bill small, weak, considerably 

 hooked, with a small and nearly obsolete festoon in the middle. Orbits 

 and sides of the head thinly provided with feathers. Wings very long ; 

 the first and second quill internally emarginate towards the tip. Tail 

 very long and deeply forked. Tarsi very short, not longer than the hind 

 toe and claw ; plumed half way in front, the remaining portion covered 

 with angulated scales. Toes short ; the two lateral almost equal, the hinder 

 nearly equal to the inner. Claws grooved beneath." 



Two Specimens of this elegant bird having been taken 

 in this country, it is entitled to a place in this work ; and 

 I have followed Mr. Vigors,* Mr. Swainson,f and Mr. 



* Zoological Journal, vol. ii. p. 386. 



f Natural History and Classification of Birds, vol. ii. p. 210. 



