ELANVS LEUCURUS. 293 



HABITS. 



The Mississippi Kites arc, with the exception of one other species, the only members 

 of the present order, which I have not seen living. This is, perhaps, partly due to acci- 

 dent but is probably attributable to the fact that the birds are quite rare and only inhabit 

 a limited urea of the section over which I have collected. Which ever way it is, however, 

 J have never seen, as before stated, a living specimen and therefore, the remarks which I 

 now make upon their habits, must be brief. 



Mr. Ridgway informs me that he found these Kites not uncommon on the prairies of 

 Southern Illinois; indeed, this bird appears to be restricted to the more open sections of 

 the country, avoiding the heavily wooded districts. As intimated, the Mississippi Kites 

 are rare east of the valley from which they take their name but Mr. Charles Nauman writes 

 me that he lias seen the species once in Florida, while Audubon and more recent authors 

 state that they occur in the Carolinas. According to Audubon, these birds make their ap- 

 pearance in Louisiana about the middle of April, breed early in May, the young leave the 

 nest in July, and, accompanied by their parents, depart for the Tropics by the fifteenth of 

 A.ugust. 



GENUS V. ELANDS. THE WHITE-TAILED KITES. 



(I;.v. Cn. Bill, short, writ curved, with the cutting edye of the upper mandibli sliyhlly lobed. Tail, rounded and sHylit- 

 Jy rniri;inate, not exceeding in knyth one half the Itnyth of the winys which are quite lony. There is no ruff whatever on 

 tin J 



Members of this genus usually have the colors very light with the tail white. The tarsus is short and naked to the 

 ad, 1'iit N feathered in front for half its length. The toes arc short and thick but the claws are well curved and 

 pointed. Only two outer quills are incised on the inner webs. Sexes similar in color. There is but one species within 

 our limits. 



ELANUS LETTCTJRUS. 



Black-shouldered Kite. 



Elanus leucurus VIKILL., Nouv. Diet., XX; 1818, 563. 



DESCRIPTION. 



SP. Cn. Form, rather robust. Size, medium. Bill, short. Feet, comparatively stout, with short claws. Tail, not 

 very i 



:it. Adult. Head and neck all around, under portions, including under wing coverts, under tail covert", nnd tib- 

 ia, v. Tul, white, with the two central feathers ashy-gray. Remainder i f 



n4, inclu ling wings an 1 upper tail e >verts, ashy-gray. 

 Youny. Simil rwas!ied with brownish above. The wing coverts are tipped with white and the 



.-iderably duller. 



inys. Are at lir-t roverul with a yellowish down, then gradually assume the plumage last described. Bill, blue!;, 

 cere and feet, yellow, iris bright ruby, in all stages. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



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

 in our limit* by the white tail, black shoulders, and general light tints. Distributed, as a summer resident, up the Miss- 

 >i Valley as iUr ns Southern Illinois. A rare resident in Florida and other Eastern Southern States, north as iUr in 

 Carolina. 



