3 1 8 A VES— ORDER A CCIPITRIFORMES. 



Eastern Australia. These birds get their name of Cuckoo-Falcons from 

 their large Cuckoo-like yellow eyes and the barred plumage of the lower 

 surface of the body, which is like that of a Cuckoo. 



In Central and South America the Cuckoo-Falcons are represented by the 

 Double-toothed Falcons (Harpagus), and in the same parts of the Neotropical 

 region occur the Grey Kite-Falcons {Ictinia), one of which, I. mississipiensis, 

 ranges into the Southern United States. All these genera which we have 

 recently mentioned belong to the borderland between the Kites and the 

 Falcons. They have the characteristics of the latter birds, united to Kite- 

 like plumage and habits, and they further differ from the true Falcons in 

 having an oval nostril, with no central tubercle, whereas the latter birds 

 have a rounded nostril with a central tubercle. The habits of the Mississippi 

 Kite-Falcon have been well described in the works of Captain Bendire and 

 Dr. A. K. Fisher. The latter writes : — " The food of this species, like that 

 of the Swallow-tailed Kite, consists of insects, such as the larger beetles, 

 grasshoppers, and locusts, lizards, small snakes, and frogs. It never has been 

 known to molest birds or mammals, except to drive the larger species away 

 from the vicinity of its nest. Three specimens which Wilson examined at 

 Natchez, Miss., contained the remains of beetles; and he s^w them flying 

 about the trees feeding on cicadas. Dr. Coues mentions one shot at Bluff- 

 ton, S.C., whose stomach was crammed with the same insects, together with 

 a few Katydids. It is wonderful at what a distance its keen eyes can detects 

 comparatively small insect. Mr. E. W. Nelson says : — ' I saw them repeatedly 

 dart with unerring aim upon some luckless grasshoppers from an elevation of 

 at least 100 yards.' (Bull. Essex Inst., Vol. IX., 1877, p. 58.) As regards 

 the economic value of this Kite much the same statement may be made as of 

 the previous species. It does little or no damage, but much good. Soon 

 after arriving in its summer home it begins to remodel its old nest or the 

 deserted nest of some other bird, and more rarely, when these are not avail- 

 able, it builds a new one. The remodelling consists in patching up the sides 

 with a few sticks and adding a sparse lining of Spanish moss or green leaves. 

 The nest is uauilly situated in the tops of the tallest trees, among the smaller 

 branches, where it is well concealed by the foliage. The full complement of 

 eggs, usually two or three in number, is deposited by the middle of May, 

 though in some cases it must be much earlier, for the writer once secured a 

 young bird in southern Louisiana at the end of May which had already 

 acquired nearly £he adult plumage. This Kite is not at all shy, and may 

 be secured easily as it sits on some tall stub ; in fact, Col. N. S. Goss 

 tells of shooting a pair from the same tree, as the second one did not 

 move at the report of the gun, but looked down with surprise on its 

 fallen companion. It is said to be morose and irritable in captivity, 

 and very difficult to tame. A specimen which the writer once wounded 

 was the very picture of rage, as with flashing eyes and erect crest it 

 threw itself on its back and prepared to repel the aggressor with its 

 talons. This species is fully as gregarious as any of the other Kites, 

 and oftentimes may be seen in flocks of twenty or more circling over a 

 favourife hunting ground. It is observed most frequently around the border 

 of woods in the vicinity of water, and is particularly fond of half-cleared 

 ground where dead trees still stand, these being used for perches. Its flight 

 is as varied and graceful as that of the Swallow-tailed Kite, is long protracted, 

 and the birds often ascend to so great a height as to be barely visible. While 

 soaring high in the air its flight simulates that of the turkey-buzzard very 



