ELA.\US. — GAMPSOXYX. 271 



Mr. J. J. Quelcli remarks ou this species in British Guiana 

 (Tiniehri (2) vi. p. 137): — " Much less common than the preceding 

 {Elaaoidesfurcatus), and much more diificult to obtain on account of 

 its rapid flight, is the Grey Kite {Elanus leucurus) . This bird is not 

 very often seen, apparently frequenting the tojis of the trees in the 

 forest and in the hilly districts, and becoming very shy of one's 

 approach. From the length and strength of its pointed wings 

 and tail, it cleaves the air with more rapid flight than is noticed 

 in any other of our Hawks, and on this account and owing to its 

 fierceness, it is said here by the old huntsmen to be more dreaded 

 by other birds, especially by the Pigeons, than any other. From 

 this it is known by the common name of 'Hawk Bass ' (i. e. master) ; 

 and it is noticeable that other species all seem to be in a state of 

 alarm during the passing flight of this bird." 



Genus GAMPSONYX Yig. 



Gampsonyx Yigors, Zool. Jomui. ii. p. 69, 1825. Tj'pe G. swainsoni 

 Vig. 



This monotypic genus is characterized by having the length of 

 the tail less than four times that of the tarsus, and the wings, 

 when closed, not reaching the end o£ the tail. 



171. Gampsonyx swainsoni. 

 Swaixson's Peakl-Kite. 



Gam^ysonyx sivoinsoni Vigors, Zool. Journ. ii. p. 69, 1825 (Bahia) ; 

 Cab. in Schomb. Reis. Guian. iii. p. 735, 1848 ; Sharpe, Cat. B. 

 Brit. Mas. i. p. 340, 1874; Salvin, Ibis, 1886, p. 77 (Merume 

 Mts.) ; Quelch. Timehri (2) vi. p. 140, 1892 (Savannas); 

 Bi-abourne & Chubb, B. S. Amer. i. p. 62, no. 662, 1912. 



" Yellow-faced Kite" {Quelch). 



Adult male. General colour above dark brown with a tinge of 

 .slate-grey ; priniary and secondary quills margined with white on 

 the inner webs, some of the secondaries fringed with white at Iho 

 lips and white on both webs ; tail-feathers edged with white on 

 the inner webs except the central pair, which are uniform ; fore 

 j)art of head and cheeks liuft" ; a black juitch on each side of the 

 breast ; throat, breast, abdomen, and untlcr tail-coverts white ; 

 under wing-coverts, axillaries, flardvs, and thighs chestnut. 



Total length 21-4 mm., culmcn (including the cere) 15, wing 150, 

 iail S(), tarsus 28, mi.ldle toe and claw 2*;. 



