904 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 
narrow, obliquely vertical, with the upper end the posterior one. (Sub- 
family Falconine.) 
ce. Nostril circular; cutting-edge of upper mandible with a strong tooth- 
like projection, separated from the strongly hooked tip by a distinct 
NOECH...sececsrsercreccconsceenccssasesevaeersasscssecesens Falco. (Page 244.) 
e. Nostril linear, obliquely vertical, the upper end posterior to the lower; 
cutting-edge of upper mandible without distinct tooth or notch. 
Polyborus. (Page 253.) 
a, Outer toe reversible; claws all of the same length, narrower and rounded on 
UNE Side......ecereccreccacssrecsveresaescseccesseessecesersenes Pandion. (Page 254.) 
Genus ELANOIDES Vigttior. (Page 222, pl. LXV.,, fig. 1.) 
Species. 
Head, neck, entire lower parts (including under wing-coverts and basal half of 
secondaries, underneath), and band across rump, pure white; back, wings, and tail 
plain polished blackish; tertials white, with blackish tips. Adult: White of head 
and neck immaculate; back, scapulars, and lesser wing-coverts with a soft velvety 
gloss of dark bronzy purplish, the other black portions with a glaucous or chalky 
cast. Young: Head and neck narrowly streaked with dusky; the black of back, 
etc., less glossy, more brownish, and with greenish instead of bronzy purple reflec- 
‘tions; quills, tail-feathers, and primary coverts narrowly bordered at tips with 
white. Length 19.50-25.50, wing 15.40-17.70, outer tail-feathers 12.50-14.50, cul- 
men 0.70-0.80, tarsus 1.00-1.30, middle toe 1.00-1.20. Nest in tops of tall trees, 
usually near water-courses. Hggs 1-4, 1.85 x 146, white or buffy white boldly 
spotted or blotched, chiefly round larger end, with hazel-brown, chestnut, or rich 
madder-brown. Hab. Tropical and warm-temperate portions of continental 
America, north in the interior regularly to Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, etc., along 
Atlantic coast casually to Pennsylvania and southern New England; accidental in 
England ...sscsscessseseseeseeeseaseseees 327. E. forficatus (Linn.). Swallow-tailed Kite. 
Gunus ELANUS Savieny. (Page 222, pl. LXV., fig. 2.) 
Species. 
Adult: Above plain pale bluish-gray, becoming gradually white on head and 
tail, with a large patch of uniform deep black covering lesser wing-covert region; 
lower parts entirely pure white; a black spot in front of and partly surrounding 
eye. Young: Somewhat like adult, but tinged with rusty, and with indistinct 
dusky streaks, on upper parts, the wing-feathers narrowly tipped with white; tail 
with an indistinct subterminal band of dusky; breast stained, or indistinctly 
blotched or streaked, with yellowish rusty. Length 15.15-16.75, wing 11.50-13.30, 
tail 5.90-7.40, culmen .65-.80, tarsus 1.20-1.50. West on trees, near water. Eggs 
3-5, 1.65 X 1.32, handsomely marbled or clouded with various shades of rich mad- 
der-brown on a paler (sometimes whitish) ground. Hab. Tropical and subtropical 
