2CA BreOS OF BRITISH GUIANA. 



beautiful Blue-and- White Scissors-tail Hawk [Elano'ides furcatus) 

 may also be occasionally seen hovering high np in the air. The 

 nest is built in the high branches of the lofty mora-trees, and the 

 two eggs are of a glossy white.^^ 



IMr. J. J. Qaelch remarks on this species as follows (Timehri 

 (2) vi. p. 136j : — "Another very common species is the Swallow- 

 tailed or Scissor-tailed Hawk or Kite (Elanoides furcatus). 

 These birds are more commonly met Avith in the forest-districts 

 generally, especially on the more elevated parts, than on the 

 coast. Along the main creeks and rivers, especially on tie 

 great reefs and ridges, they are almost always to be seen, either 

 singly or in groups of as many as twelve or more, circling round 

 with most exquisitely graceful motion, swooping down suddenly, 

 and then again rising upwards in wide sweeps with arched wings 

 and tail. It is a well-known characteristic of these birds that, if 

 one of a flight be shot, the others will circle round and round the 

 place where it has fallen, uttering their plaintive but shrill 

 shrieks — at times almost swooping down upon the body as though 

 to remove itj when it is an easy matter to procure series of speci- 

 mens and possibly the whole flight. The species has a very wide 

 ranore, extendinfj; to the Central States of North America and to 

 the southern parts of Brazil ; while accidental, and apparently 

 tempest-tossed, specimens have been met w^th in Europe. 



*' The food of these birds, here, seems to consist almost entirely 

 of insects and seeds. The winged females of the umbrella or 

 cushie ants, the large-bodied moths, cicadas, grasshoppers, locusts, 

 and the grubs of various species of Hymenoptera, evidently taken 

 from the ravaged nests, make up, with seeds of the various bird- 

 vines (Lorantlius) and other plants, the food-contents found at 

 various times in these Hawks." 



Mr. Beebe (Our Search for a Wilderness, p. 154) gives the 

 following; note: — "While crossing; the Waini several Swallow- 

 tailed Kites soared screaming overhead, occasionally swooping 

 past for a nearer look at us." 



Genus ROSTRHAMUS Less. 



Jiosfrhamus Lesson, Traite d"Orn. p. 53, 1S30. T^-j^e li. luimutus (Illigcr), 



The members of this genus have the tail forked, but not so deep 

 as that of the previous genus ; the bill is slender, with a sharply- 

 curved hook. 



