132 



British Birds, with their Nests and Eggs. 



Favtilv—FAL CONIDyE. 



American Swallow-Tailed Kite. 



A 



Elaiio'ides furcatus, L,INN. 



WANDERER from America. Although Harting enumerates five occurrences 

 of this very beautiful bird, whose plumage is deep glossy black on mantle, 

 wings, and tail, with Avhite head and under parts, and has an extremely long and 

 forked tail ; yet Saunders, who has doubtless sifted them, only admits one as 

 suflBciently authenticated, the specimen obtained at Shaw Gill, near Hawes, 

 Wensleydale, on 6 th September, 1805. 



The eggs of this Kite obtain a very high price from collectors. When Mr. 

 Leopold Field's collection of eggs was sold at Stevens' Auction Rooms, in June, 

 1895, a clutch of three from Texas realized ^9 los., while a single ^%%., "a 

 magnificent specimen," went for £'^ los. ! 



Family— FALCONID^. 



Black-Winged Kite. 



Elanus c^rulejts, DeSF. 



THIS pretty little African Kite, which in the adult plumage closely corresponds 

 to the male Hen-Harrier, and is extremely unlikely ever to occur in the 

 British Isles, is stated to have once been obtained in Ireland. Saunders writes : 

 " I have examined an immature specimen of the little Black-winged Kite, said to 

 have been shot about 1862, in Co. Meatli ; but it was unrecognized for ten years, 

 and the evidence is not wholly satisfactory." 



