feeding on the cotton worm and other 

 injurious insects. The smaller snakes, 

 however, form a large part of the Kite's 

 diet and they are so frequently seen with 

 these reptiles in their talons that in the 

 south they are sometimes called Snake 

 Hawks. So far as known, they do not 

 capture the smaller birds or mammials. 



The Swallow-tailed Kite usually 

 builds its nest in the tallest trees of v/ild 

 localities, where it is quite concealed by 

 the foliage of the smaller branches. The 

 nest is often constructed with sticks and 

 twigs, but when obtainable, Spanish moss 

 or the fibrous inner bark of the cotton- 

 wood is used to make a thick and sub- 

 stantial lining. Some observers state 

 that the material is collected by the fe- 

 male, but that the male assists in the con- 

 struction of the nest. He is certainly a 

 faithful mate, for during the period of 

 incubation she seldom leaves the nest 

 and he brings food to her. Both birds 

 assist in feeding the young. During this 

 time, both sexes are vicious and will at- 

 tack any intruder, be it bird, beast or 

 even man. 



An interesting habit of this Kite is its 

 method of leaving its nest. It does not 



fly from the side, but seems to rise di- 

 rectly upward, "as if it were pushed up 

 with a spring." On alighting, it hovers 

 over the nest and with an almost imper- 

 ceptible motion of its wings gently low- 

 ers itself until the nest is reached. 



The antics of the Swallow-tailed Kite 

 during the mating season are particularly 

 interesting. An observer of bird life 

 says : "Of all aerial performances I have 

 ever witnessed, the mating of the Swal- 

 low-tailed Kite excels. Ever charming 

 and elegant, they outdo themselves at 

 this season. In Becker County, Minne- 

 sota, in the spring of 1886, they chose 

 as their mating ground an open space 

 over the mouth of an ice-cold brook that 

 made its way out from a dark, tangled 

 larch swamp. From my boat on the lake 

 I had an excellent view of them. All 

 the afternoon seven of these matchless 

 objects sported, chasing each other here 

 and there, far and near, sailing along in 

 easy curves, floating, falling and rising, 

 then darting with meteor-like swiftness, 

 commingling and separating with an 

 abandon and airy ease that is difficult to 

 imagine. The next day three pairs were 

 selecting nesting sites." 



TO THE BIRDS. 



Dear birds, an easy life was yours 



E'er man, the slayer, trod 

 Your earth from all its seas and shores 



Went up your praise to God. 



What though to weasel, stoat and fox 



Your toll of lives you paid, 

 And hungry hawks might tithe your flocks 



That through the woodland play'd? 



Short fears were yours and sudden death, 

 Long life and boundless room; 



No cities choked you with their breath, 

 Or scared you with their gloom. 



Pure streams and quiet vales you had; 



No snare nor line nor gun 

 Made war against your legions glad 



That wanton'd in the sun. 



Hope on, and some day you shall see. 

 When these ill days have end, 



That man the slayer — who but he? — 

 Is changed to man, the friend. 



— Henry Johnstone, 



