RAPTORES. 285 



The genus Ictinia, (Gr. iktin, a kite.) is characterized by its 

 strong and short bill, the upper mandible of which is "somewhat 

 angularly festooned," and the lower distinctly notched. 



The MISSISSIPPI KITE, /. plumbeus, (Lat. leaden or dull,) is 

 by some naturalists ranked among the Buzzards. Twenty or 

 more of these birds are sometimes seen together, sweeping around 

 some tree, and catching the locusts which are numerous early in 

 the season. The back and wings of this bird are of a slate blue ; 

 the head and under parts whitish, spotted with brown. This 

 Kite is said to fly to a great height, where it remains for a while 

 poised ; it cleaves the air rapidly, in order to seize the insects 

 which are its prey, added to reptiles and birds. 



THIRD SUB-FAMILY. The BUZZARDS. 

 Buteonina. (Lat. buteo, a buzzard.) Buteo, sub-genus of Falco. 



The Buzzards are, as a group, distinguished by their short 

 beaks, expanded wings, and squared tails. They are com- 

 mon in most of the wooded districts of Europe, and the adjacent 

 parts of Asia, and have been met with in the fur countries of 

 North America. They are indolent, sluggish birds, often remain- 

 ing perched on the same bough the greatest part of the day ; and 

 generally feed upon small quadrupeds, reptiles, and various spe- 

 cies of insects. The skins of the Buzzards are covered with 

 fine down. In Cairo, (Egypt,) and in some other places in the 

 East, the skins, after the feathers are removed, are tanned with 

 the down upon them ; as thus prepared, they are used by wealthy 

 Turks and Persians for lining their silk robes. 



The COMMON BUZZARD, B. vulgaris, has a general plumage 

 of chocolate brown ; the primary feathers are black with the in- 

 ner webs white, barred with brownish black ; the tail has ten 

 dusky bars on a reddish brown ground ; the under parts are yel- 

 lowish white. This bird builds its nest on high trees, though it 

 has been known to construct it upon rocks. It often seizes upon 

 the nest of a crow, which it enlarges and lines with wool and 

 other soft materials. The female lays from three to five eggs of 

 a whitish cast, spotted with pale brown, and almost without any 

 of the tinge of red which is peculiar to diurnal birds of prey. 

 The length of the Common Buzzard is about twenty-nine inches; 

 the expanse of the wings about fifty inches. 



The RED-TAILED BUZZARD, B. Borealis, (Lat. northern,) pe- 

 culiar to the American Continent, is found throughout the United 

 States. This is a very wary bird, and hard to be approached by 

 any one bearing a gun. In common with some other Falcons, it 



