SWALLOW-TAILED KITF. 77 



RAPTOnKS. FALCONTDM. 



THE SWALLOW-TAILED KITE. 



Nauclerus furcatm. 



Elanus furcatus, Sicallow-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, pt xxii. 



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

 with a small and nearly obsolete festoon in the middle. Orbits and sides of 

 the head thiniy 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,j" and Mr. 



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



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



