3 16 A VES— ORDER A CCIPITRrFORMES. 



with Eagles, but tliey are connected with the latter birds through the 

 Brahminy Kites (Ilaliastur). These birds inhabit India and Burma, and 

 extend through the Malay Archipelago to Australia. The Brahminy Kite of 

 India (Haliastur iiidus) makes a nest in a tree very much like that of a Kite, 

 and lays a white egg, mottled with dots and hieroglyphioa of reddish-brown. 

 From the genus Haliastur is an easy transition through the African 

 Swallow-tailed Kite {Nauderus riqcouri) and the American Swallow-tailed 

 Kite {Elanoides fiircatus) to the typical Kites {Milvus). The Swallow-tailed 

 Kite of America is a lovely and must graceful bird, the back and tail being 

 black, and the head and underparts pure white. It nests in the Southern 

 United States, and winters in Brazil. Florida is one of its breeding grounds, 

 and the following account of its habits is given by Dr. William L. Ralph in 

 Captain Bendire's "Life-History of North American Birds." He writes:— 

 " Excepting, perhaps, the Turkey Vulture, I think that this bird is the most 

 graceful of any wlien on the wing. It ha? the same easy floating motion, 

 but at times it flies very rapidly and turns very quickly, which is something 

 I have never seen the former bird do. Their motions are very ' Swallow '- 

 like, and this, with their fi irked tail, makes them look like gigantic Barn- 

 Swallows; and like the Chimney-Swifts they have a habit of travelling 

 together in small companies, usually consisting of three individuals, 

 especially when they first return from the South. During' the breeding 

 season flocks, consisting- of from two to three to ten or twelve birds, but 

 oftener of three, may be seen following one another around, frequently 

 uttering their calls and circling in and out among the tree-tops so fast as to 

 make one dizzy to look at them. Except during this season one seldom sees 

 one of these birds unless it is flying, and I have often wondered if they did 

 not at times sleep while on the wing. At least I know that they usually, it 

 not always, eat while flying, for I have many times seen one sailing leisurely 

 along, occasionally bending its head to tear a piece from a small snake that 

 it held in its talons, and I have never seen one alight to eat its food, like 

 other Birds of Prey." 



There are many other forms of Kite, such as the Hooked-billed Kites 

 (Rostliramun), the Black-shouldered Kites {Elanus), and other smiU genera, 

 but the best known are, of course, the true Kites of the genus MUrus. In 

 the towns and villages of tropical countries of the Old World these birds are 

 nearly always in evidence, flying about with a continuous squeaking cry. 

 The Common Kite is nearly extinct in England, but there are many places 

 on the Continent where it is still plentiful ; and Mr. Seebohm gives the 

 following account of its habits ; — " In the manner of taking its prey the Kite 

 very much resembles the Buzzards, and even the Harriers. It is by no 

 means a bold and powerful bird, for a clucking hen has been known to 

 put it to flight, and the fiery little Sparrow-Hawk mobs it with impunity. 

 The Kite takes its food upon the ground, and usually catches young or 

 weakly birds or mammals, and also does not even refuse to make a meal on 

 carrion. Like all rapacious birds, the Kite appears to have some favourite 

 spot which serves as a dining-table or larder, where the food brought to feed 

 its hungry young is also plucked and otherwise prepared for them. The nest 

 in the breeding season is also a well-stocked larder, far more food being con- 

 veyed thither than is really consumed. In these places may be seen'the 

 remains of Grouse, Plovers, and young Curlews and Wild Ducks. In 

 addition to this food the Kite also takes young hares and rabbits, mice and 

 rats, frogs, lizards, more rarely snakes, and the larger coleopterous insects 



