292 1CT1NIA M1SSISSIPP1ENSIS. 



Members of this genus have no vuff, or f:\eial disk, nor are tlie car cavities strikingly large. The leg is sliort and the 

 tarsus is naked to the heel behind, but is sligV.ly f vitlierod ia f.-ont. Tiis claws are quite short but pointed. Only two 

 outer quills arc noticeably incised on the inner wo'/-;. 



Tho trachea is much flattened throughout. The sterno-trachealis is short, having its origin about '25 from the larynx, 

 and them is a slender hroncltialis extending over all the half rings, but there are no other laryngeal muscles. . The tympan- 

 iform membrane is present and although there is a thin os transversal. 1 , it dues not support a semilunar m;-mhi--.ui<'. The 

 walls of the oesophagus are thin; this is at first nearly straight, and is diluted into a crop, then is again straight ;in I 

 into a rather small proventriculus with simple, oval jrlands arranged in :i zonular band which measures 1-50 in Mississippi- 

 ensis, from which this and the following dimensions were taken. The stomach is of a medium si/c. somewhat globular 

 in form, with thin but soft walls, and is lined with a soft membrane. The fold of the duodenum is l;>ng, measuring 3 00, 

 inclosing a narrow pancreas which extends its entire length. The coeca are present but are small. The spleen is an ellip- 

 tical body lying directly on the proventriculus. Both lobes of the liver are .short and thick. The heart is large and not 

 very pointed. Sexes, similar in color. There is but one species within our limits. 



ICTINTA MISSISSIPPIEWSIS. 



Mississippi Kite. 

 Ictinia Mississippiensis Wilson, Am. Orn., Ill; 1811, 80. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. Cn. Form, rather robust. Size, medium. Sternum, rather stout, with the marginal indentations varying with 

 age. Tongue, short, not very fleshy, and about the same width for nearly its entire length, then gradually rounded and bi- 

 fid. Tail, square and slightly emarginate. Wings, very long. 



COLOR. Adult. Head and neck all around, under portions, including under wing coverts, under tail coverts, and tib- 

 ia, dark bluish-ash. Remainder -of upper portions, including wings, upper tail coverts, and tail, black, glossed with green. 

 There is a longitudinal stripe extending over the middle portion of each primary, occupying the whole of the inner web and 

 part of the outer, of bright chestnut. The tips of the secondaries are ashy-white. Lores and the narrow ring aroui 

 black. 



Youny. Mixed with dull rufous and white above. Hoad and under parts, yellowish-white, with longitudinal stripes 

 of reddish-brown, which are darker and.more numerous on the head, and brighter and broader on the abdomen. 



Nestlings. Are at first covered with a yellowish down, then gradually assume the plumage last described. Bill and 

 cere, bluish, iris, ruby-red, fe.et, orange, in all stages. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



There appears to be but little variation in specimens of the same age. Known from all other species which occur with- 

 in our limits by the square tail, taken in connection with the peculiar, bright chestnut markings on the primaries, and the 

 other colors as describad. Distribute 1, as a comnim summer resident, u.> the Mississippi Valley as far as Southern Illi- 

 nois. Rare in Florida and other Eastern Southern States, north as far as South Carolina. Winters in Central and South 

 America. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of male specimens from Southern United States. Length, 14-00; stretch, 36-00; wing, H'OO; tail, 

 0-00; bill, -05; tarsus, 1'75. Longest spaeimen, 14-50; greatest extent of wing, 35-50; longest wing, 11-50; tail, li-50; bill, 

 100; tarsus, 1 80. Shortest specimen, 13'CO; smallest extent of wing, 35'00; shortest wing, 10-50; tail, 5 50; bill, '85; tar- 

 sus, 1-fiO. 



Average measurements of female specimens from Southern United States. Length, 15-00; stretch, 35'00; wing, 11-50; 

 tail, 6'50; bill, TOO; tarsus, 1'85. Longest specimen, 15 50; greatest extent of wing, 36'75; longest wing, 11-60; tail, 7'0<); 

 bill, 1-10; tarsus, 1'95. Shortest specimen, 14'50; smallest extent of wing, 35'50; shortest wing, 11'40; tail, 6'00; bill, '95; 

 tarsus, T80. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, placed in trees. They are composed of sticks, carelessly arranged, intermingled with bunches of Spanish moss 

 and lined with strips of bark and leaves. 



//</', two or thres in number, rather spherical in form, greenish-white in color, thickly spotted and blotched with deep 

 chocolate-brown and black. Dimensions from 1-30 x 1'50 to 1-32x1-52. 



