ELANUS AXILLARIS. 



Blade-shouldered Kite. 



Forehead, cheeks, and under surface, white ; back of the neck, back, scapularies, and upper tail coverts, light grey. A large black patch 

 extends from the shoulder over a considerable portion of the wing. Primaries, dark grey ; tail, greyish white ; mark over the eye, black ; 

 irides, reddish orange ; bill, black ; cere and legs, yellow. The sexes are very much alilie, but the female is the largest. The young have the 

 tips of the feathers of the upper surface tinged with brown. 



Length of male, 12 inches ; wing, 9^ ; tail, 4f ; bill, 1^ ; tarsus. If. 



This species is widely dispersed, being found from Queensland, on the east, to Swan Eiver, on the west of the Australian 

 continent. It cannot be considered plentiful, seldom more than two being seen at a time. This bird is generally found in open country, and 

 when seen soaring over the inland plains in search of its food, attracts much interest and attention by the gracefulness of its movements. 

 Its food consists of insects and various small animals. In disposition, it may be considered rather timid than otherwise. 



