110 MISSISSIPPI KITE. 



On coming back, what was my mortification^ wlien I found that some 

 quadruped had devoured both ! My punishment was merited. 



The Mississippi Kite arrives in Lower Louisiana about the middle of 

 April^ in small parties of five or six, and confines itself to the borders of 

 deep woods, or to those near plantations, not far from the shores of the 

 rivers, lakes, or bayous. It never moves into the interior of the country, 

 and in this respect resembles the Falco Jurcatus. Plantations lately 

 cleared, and yet covered with tall dying girted trees, placed near a creek 

 or bayou, seemed to suit it best. 



Its flight is graceful, vigorous, protracted, and often extended to a 

 great height, the Forked-tailed Hawk being the only species that can 

 compete with it. At times it floats in the air, as if motionless, or sails in 

 broad regular circles, when, suddenly closing its wings, it slides along to 

 some distance, and renews its curves. Now it sweeps in deep and long 

 undulations, with the swiftness of an arrow, passing almost within touch- 

 ing distance of a branch on which it has observed a small lizard, or an 

 insect it longs for, but from which it again ascends disappointed. Now 

 it is seen to move in hurried zig-zags, as if pursued by a dangerous ene- 

 my, sometimes seeming to turn over and over like a Tumbling Pigeon. 

 Again it is observed flying round the trunk of a tree to secure large in- 

 sects, sweeping with astonishing velocity. While travelling, it moves in 

 the desultory manner followed by Swallows ; but at other times it is seen 

 soaring at a great elevation among the large flocks of Carrion Crows and 

 Turkey Buzzards, joined by the Forked-tailed Hawk, dashing at the 

 former, and giving them chase, as if in play, until these cowardly sca- 

 vengers sweep downwards, abandoning this to them disagreeable sport 

 to the Hawks, who now continue to gambol undisturbed. When in 

 pursuit of a large insect or a small reptile, it turns its body sidewise, 

 throws out its legs, expands its talons, and generally seizes its prey in an 

 instant. It feeds while on wing, apparently with as much ease and com- 

 fort, as when alighted on the branch of a tall tree. It never alights on 

 the earth ; at least I have never seen it do so, except when wounded, and 

 then it appears extremely awkward. It never attacks birds or quadru- 

 peds of any kind, with the view of destroying them for food, although it 

 will chase a fox to a considerable distance, screaming loudly all the whUe, 

 and soon forces a Crow to retreat to the woods. 



The nest of this species is always placed in the upper branches of the 

 tallest trees. I thought it gave the preference to those tall and splendid 



