SWALLOW-TAILED HAWK. 371 



acute, the third quill longest, the first eqvial to the fifth, the primaries 

 widely graduated; the secondaries comparatively very short. Tail very 

 deeply forked, of twelve feathers, the lateral ones extremely elongated. 



Bill bluish-black above. Light blue on the cere, and the edges of 

 both mandibles. Edges of the eyeUds hght blue ; iris black. Feet light 

 blue, tinged with green ; claws flesh-coloured. The head, the neck all 

 round, and the under parts, are white, tinged with bluish-grey ; the shafts 

 of the head, neck, and breast blackish. The rest of the plumage is 

 black, with blue and purple reflections. 



Length 25 inches, extent of wings 51 1 ; beak along the back 1^. 



The female is similar to the male. 



The Garter Snake. 



This is one of our most abundant species, and is found everywhere 

 in the meadows, the fields, the gardens, and the forests. It moves witli 

 ease, and now and then ascends low bushes. It is quite harmless. 



A a 2 



