THE SWALLOW-TAILED KITE. 393 



the courting season, when the male reaffirms his fondness for his life-long 

 mate by circling about her as she sits upon the tree-top; or he measures the 

 height of his devotion by ascending to the clouds before her, and dashing 

 himself at her feet again with shrill cries of Kitty, kitty, kitty. To hear the 

 snarling clamor of the birds, one would think that, they were not getting 

 on nicely, but this is a mistake, for the high-pitched conversation is really 

 very amiable in character, and neither bird would think of parting from its 

 consort for however brief a space of time without a screamed farewell of 

 unquestionable tenderness. 



The eggs, which seldom have any softer resting place than the chips or 

 rotten wood which the Woodpeckers have left them, are among the hand- 

 somest of oological treasures. The lime of the shell, still plastic, has been 

 generously sprinkled with cinnamon, and a warm glow imparted to the whole. 

 Incubation lasts three weeks, and the young, when hatched, are covered with 

 a thick white down which gives them a rather tidy appearance, in spite of 

 their enormous eyes. 



The food of the Sparrow Hawk consists largely of insects, of which 

 grasshoppers and spiders are the most noteworthy. Mice and shrews are also 

 eaten, and in winter, when the Hawks are much less common, small birds. 

 The Sparrow Hawk has cultivated a discriminating taste for English Spar- 

 rows, and has, I believe, almost left off preying upon other sorts. It 

 deserves rigid protection everywhere, both in village and field. 



No. 175. 



SWALLOW-TAILED KITE. 



A. O. U. No. 327 Elanoides forficatus (Linn.). 



Description. Adult: Head and neck all around, rump, basal portion of 

 tertials, and entire under parts including lining of wings, white; remaining 

 plumage black, lustrous, with purplish reflections on back and scapulars, with 

 a glaucous or chalky cast on contiguous portions, bronzy or various elsewhere ; tail 

 deeply forked, graduated; bill bluish-black; edges of mandibles, cere, and feet 

 pale blue ; claws light. Young : Similar, but black not so lustrous ; wing and tail- 

 feathers tipped with white ; head and neck streaked narrowly with blackish shaft- 

 lines. Length 20.00-26.00 (5o8.-66o.4) ; wing 15.50-17.75 (593.7-450.9) ; tail 

 (outer feathers) 11.00-14.50 (279.4-368.3) ; bill from nostril .76 (19.3). 



Recognition Marks. Not readily comparable in size. Black and white in 

 masses ; long wings and forked tail ; exceedingly graceful flight. 



Nest, at great heights in trees, near extremity of branch, composed of sticks 

 and abundant green moss. Eggs, 2-4, white, greenish- or yellowish-white, spotted, 

 marbled, or clouded with hazel, chestnut, or mahogany. Av. size, 1.85 x 1.46 

 (47. x 37.1). 



