2S4 RAPTORES. 



Fish-Hawk is much like that of water fowl, white below, with a 

 few brown streaks or speckles on the throat. This bird is spread 

 over Europe and part of Asia ; it is found in North America from 

 Labrador to Florida. 



The HARRIER, CIRCUS, (Gr. kirkos, a circle,) has the sides of 

 the head furnished with a circle of feathers much like the disk 

 of the Owl's head. 



The COMMON HARRIER, C. cyaneus, (Gr. kuaneos, dark blue,) 

 ranges from Labrador to Texas, and sometimes is seen in the 

 Western prairies in flocks of thirty or even forty in number. 

 The notes of this bird, while on the wing, " sound like the sylla- 

 bles, pee, PEE, PEE, the first slightly pronounced, the last louder, 

 much prolonged, and ending plaintively." The Common Harrier 

 feeds on insects, small lizards, frogs, &c., but occasionally will 

 attack partridges and plovers. 



SECOND SUB-FAMILY. KITES. 

 Milvina. (Lat. milvus, a kite.) 



The length of the wings and the forked tail are the characters 

 which most separate the Kites from the rest of the Birds of Prey. 



The COMMON KITE, or GLEDE, M. ictinus, (Gr. iktinos, a kite,) 

 or M. regatis, (Lat. royal.) is found in various parts of Europe. 

 According to Charles Lucien Buonaparte, it is very common near 

 Rome, (Italy,) especially about herds of cattle. Formerly, more 

 numerous than now, it was a great scourge to the poultry yard. 

 In falconry, the Glede was very docile, being used both as pur- 

 suer and pursued. 



THE SWALLOW-TAILED HAWK, or FORK-TAIL, Nauclerus, (Gr. 

 naukleros, a ship master,) furcatus, (Lat. forked,) differs from the 

 true kite, (mifous,) in having a more largely forked tail. The 

 Fork-tail, in steering its course through the air, reminds one of the 

 helmsman who is guiding some noble bark amidst the waves. Its 

 flight is graceful and long protracted. It has been seen as far north 

 as Pennsylvania; in Mississippi and Louisiana it is abundant. The 

 Swallow-tailed Hawks always feed upon the wing. In calm and 

 warm weather they are seen soaring very high, and pursuing the 

 large insects called " Musquito Hawks." The upper plumage is 

 black with reflections of purple ; the head and under parts white. 



The genus Elanus has several species, among which are E. 

 melanopterus, (Gr. black-winged.) the BLACK- WINGED SWALLOW- 

 HAWK, of Africa; E. dispar, (Lat. dissimilar.) the BLACK-SHOUL- 

 DERED HAWK, a beautiful bird found from Texas to South Caro- 

 lina. 



