KITES. 297 



Another European species is the black kite, Milvus migrans, which also extends all 

 over Africa. This is of smaller size, darker plumage, and the tail is less deeply 

 forked. Other species are the Arabian kite, M. cegyptius^ of Africa, and the pariah 

 kite, M. govinda, of India. These four are all quite similar in general appearance 

 and habits. They are very active birds, spending much of the time on the wing, 

 feeding principally on small mammals, reptiles, and insects, to which diet several 

 species add fish, while all are much addicted to such refuse as may be picked up about 

 human habitations. Indeed the pariah kite of India does valuable service of this kind 

 directly in the towns and villages of the country, earning thus its common name of 

 village kite. In catching fish and frogs, a favorite habit of the black kite, the bird 

 glides down to the water and seizes with a thrust of the foot one which has risen to 

 the surface, rarely if ever plunging into the water in the manner of the osprey. 

 Milvus isurus is a very closely allied but crested form, inhabiting Australia. 



Turning now to the less typical members of the sub-family, we may notice first the 

 beautiful little black-winged kites (Elanus) of the warmer parts of both Old and New 

 AVorlds. Several species are usually recognized, but all are so similar to each other 

 that it would be difficult to discriminate between them at gunshot range. They are 

 seldom more than fifteen inches in length, of which nearly half is tail, and the body 

 color is either white or very light gray, sometimes silvery or pearly, while the shoulders 

 are always black. They feed mostly on insects and some of the smallest reptiles and 

 mammals. The black-winged kite, Elanus cceruleus, of Africa and southern Europe, 

 may be taken as the type. The only American species is the very similar white-tailed 

 or black-shouldered kite, Elanus leucurus. A very different yet related bird is the 

 Mississippi kite, Jctinia snbccerulea (mississipfriensis), which is rather smaller, and 

 readily distinguishable by the decidedly darker general color, with the larger part of 

 the wings and tail black, the latter with spots on the inner webs of the feathers. 



Unquestionably the most beautiful bird of the group is the swallow-tailed kite, 

 Elanoides forficatus, of the wanner parts of America, extending up the Mississippi 

 valley even to Minnesota. The beautiful black and white plumage, extremely long 

 and slender-pointed wings, and deeply forked tail, suffice for the recognition of this 

 bird at a single glance. It is one of the two largest American kites, its length from 

 bill to tip of tail being about two feet, while the wings expand rather over four feet. 

 The head, neck, and entire under parts are pure white; the back, wings, and tail, 

 lustrous black ; the rump with a white patch. Its flight is unrivalled in swiftness and 

 grace, and it usually takes its prey, consisting largely of insects, on the wing, tearing 

 and swallowing it as it flies. Occasionally, however, when capturing a snake or lizard, 

 it may be seen to alight for an instant. It nests in trees, laying several spotted eggs, 

 but these are rare in collections, and the nesting habits of the species are but imper- 

 fectly known. It frequently associates in large numbers, while feeding on insects and 

 while migrating, and there is some reason to suppose that it may occasionally breed 

 in communities, though during the breeding-season it is usually met with only in 

 pairs. 



While traveling among the mountains of Guatemala, Mr. R. Owen observed a 

 large flock more than two hundred of these birds engaged in the pursuit of 

 a swarm of bees, which they caught singly with their feet, and, bringing the foot for- 

 ward and bending the head downwards and backwards to meet it, they easily and 

 rapidly transferred the prey to the bill. 



A closely, allied, fork-tailed species is the Nauclerus riocot/ri of west Africa, a bird 



