196 FALCONS, HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC. 



827. Elanoides forficatus (Linn.). SWALLOW-TAILED KITE. Ad. 

 Head, neck, linings of the wings, rump, part of tertials, and under parts 

 white ; rest of the plumage glossy bluish black ; tail deeply forked, the outer 

 feathers about 8-00 longer than the middle ones. L., 24-00; W., 16-50; T., 

 13-50 ; B. from N., -80. 



Range. Southern United States north to Pennsylvania and casually to 

 Massachusetts ; south to South America ; breeding locally throughout its 

 range, and wintering in Central and South America. 



Nest, in the upper branches of tall trees. Eggs, two to four, white or buft'y 

 white, boldly spotted or blotched, chiefly round the larger end, with hazel- 

 brown, chestnut, or rich madder-brown, 1-87 x 1*49 (Ridgw.). 



The Swallow-tailed Kite winters in Central and South America, 

 and appears in the United States in March. Its home is the air, and 

 it is far more frequently seen on the wing than at rest. It captures 

 its prey, devours it, and drinks while under way. Its flight possesses 

 all the marvelous ease and grace of a Swallow's, made more evident, 

 and consequently more impressive, by the bird's much greater size. 



328. Elanus leucurus ( Vieill.). WHITE-TAILED KITE. Ad. Upper 

 parts ashy gray, whiter on the head ; wing-coverts black ; tail and under parts 

 white. L., 15-50 ; W., 12-50 ; T., 7'00 ; B. from N., -70. 



Range. Breeds from South Carolina, southern Illinois, and Indian Terri- 

 tory southward through Mexico to the Argentine .Republic; rare east of the 

 Mississippi. 



Nest, in trees. Eggs, three to four, " handsomely marbled or clouded with 

 various shades of rich madder-brown on a paler (sometimes whitish) ground, 

 1-71 x 1-31" (Ridgw.). 



This species is not often found east of the Mississippi. It frequents 

 open, marshy situations. A pair which I observed in Texas hunted 

 by hovering over the reeds, sustaining a position facing the wind, and 

 about forty feet from the ground, by a gentle movement of the wings. 



329. Ictinia mississippiensis ( Wils.). MISSISSIPPI KITE. Ad. 

 Head, neck, exposed margins of the secondaries, and under parts gray ; back 

 bluish slate-color; primaries streaked or spotted with rufous-chestnut; tail 

 black, without bars. Im. Head streaked with black and white ; back black- 

 ish, tipped with rufous or white, the concealed parts of the feathers white and 

 with generally one blackish bar ; primaries without rufous ; tail with three 

 or four broken white bars ; below buft'y, streaked with rufous and grayish 

 brown. L., 14-00 ; W., 11-25; T., 6-50 ; B. from N., -60. 



Range. Breeds from South Carolina, southern Illinois, and Kansas south- 

 ward to Central America ; winters in the tropics. 



Nest, in tall trees. Eggs, two, dull white, sometimes with a bluish tinge, 

 1-63 x 1-32. 



This bird, like the preceding, is only a summer resident in the 

 United States, arriving from the south in April. It is not common 



