SWA.LLOW-TAILED KITE. 39 



for the field-mice of that country, or unwary Sparrows, that 

 approach its perch. The bird of Africa and India is said to 

 utter a sharp and piercing cry, which is often repeated while 

 the bird moves in the air. It builds, in the forks of trees, a 

 broad and shallow nest, lined internally with moss and feathers. 

 A pair have been known to breed on the Santee River in the 

 month of March, according to Audubon. 



This Kite occurs regularly in the Southern States, north to 

 South Carolina, and Mr. Ridgway has met with it in southern 

 Illinois. It extends its ranee westward to California. 



SWALLOW-TAILED KITE. 

 fork-tailed kite. 

 Elanoides forficatus. 



Char. Head, neck, rump, and lower parts white, other parts black ; 

 tail deeply forked. Length igj^ to 251^ inches. 



Nest. In a tree; of sticks and moss, lined with grass and leaves. 



Eggs. 2-3 ; white, with buff or green tinge, spotted with various shades 

 of brown; 1.85 X 1.50 



This beautiful Kite breeds and passes the summer in the 

 warmer parts of the United States, and is also probably resi- 

 dent in all tropical and temperate America, migrating into the 

 southern as well as the northern hemisphere. In the former, 

 according to Viellot, it is found in Peru and as far as Buenos 

 Ayres; and though it is extremely rare to meet with this 

 species as far as the latitude of 40° in the Atlantic States, 

 yet, tempted by the abundance of the fruitful valley of the 

 Mississippi, individuals have been seen along that river as 

 far as the Falls of St. Anthony, in the 44th degree of north 

 latitude. Indeed, according to Fleming two stragglers have 

 even found their devious way to the strange climate of Great 

 Britain. 



These Kites appear in the United States about the close of 

 April or beginning of May, and are very numerous in the Mis- 



