SWALLW-TAILED HAWK. 447 
SWALLOW-TAILED HAWK.—FALCO FURCATUS.— 
Fig. 204. 
Linn. Syst. 129. — Lath. i. 60. — Hirundo.maxima Peruviana avis preedatoris cal- 
caribus instructa, Feuillee, Voy. Peru, tom. ii. 33. — Catesb. i. 4, — Le Milan de 
Ja Caroline, Briss. i. 418. — Buff. i. 221. — Turt, Syst. 149.— Arct. Zool. p. 210, 
No. 103, — Peale’s Museum, No. 142. 
ELANUS FURCATUS. —Savicxv.* 
Le Milan de Caroline, Cur. Regn. Anim. i. p. 322. — Elanus furcatus, Bonap. Sy- 
nop. p. 31.—Nauclerus fureatus, Vigs Zool. Journ. No. VIL. p. 387. — Less. 
Man. d’ Ornith. i. p. 101. — The Swallow-tailed Hawk, Aud. pl. 72; Orn. Biog. 
i. p. 368. 
Turs very elegant species inhabits the southern districts of the 
United States in summer; is seldom seen as far north as Pennsylva- 
ma, but is very abundant in South Carolina and Georgia, and still 
more so in West Florida, and the extensive prairies of Ohio and the 
Indiana Territory. I met with’ these birds, in the early part of May, 
at a place called Duck Creek, in Tennessee; and found them sailing 
* The characters of the birds composing this genus are, — general form, of less 
strength than most of the Fulconidce ; bill, rather weak ; tooth, little seen; the tarsi, 
short, thick, reticulated, and partly featbered in front; wings, greatly elongated ; 
timorous, and, like the Kites, excel in flight, circling in- the air. Mr. Vigors has 
formed a genus, Nuuclerus, of this and a small African species, dividing them from 
Llanus, where they were placed by most prior ornithologists. In these two birds, 
the tail is forked to a great extent; while, in the others, it only commences to as- 
sume that form, and, in one, is altogether square. ‘The claws also are not circular 
underneath, as in the others, to which Mr. Vigors would restrict Llunus. The 
wings of the two birds, however, show considerable difference ; the quills, in the 
American, being abruptly emarginated, the third Jongest; in the African, the sec- 
ond is longest, and only a slight emargination on the two first. Altogether, we are 
not quite satisfied with ‘the distinetione: I have for the present retained Llunus, 
notwithstanding the differences that do exist between some of its members. 
According to Audubon, they feed chiefly on the wing; and having pounced on 
any prey a the ground, rise with it, and devour it while flying. “In calm and 
warm weather,” he remarks, “ they soar to an immense height, pursuing the large 
insects called Musquito Hawks, and performing the most mien evolutions that 
can be conceived, using their tail with an elegance peculiar to themselves.” ‘They 
thus show a manner of feeding entirely different from most birds of prey, which gen-. 
erally retire to some distance, and devour in quiet ou the ground. ‘I'liere are some 
partly insectiverous Hawks, — Penis, for instance, — which seize and devour the 
Insect during flight; but larger prey is treated at leisure. I am aware of none that 
feed so decidedly on the wing as that now described 5 in every thing, it will appear 
more like a large Swallow than au accipitrine bird. 
Mr. Audubon remarks another curious circumstance, at variance with the wary 
manners of the Fulconide. ‘ When one is killed, and falls to the ground, the 
whole flock comes over the dead bird, as if intent upon carrying it off. I have 
killed several of these Hawks in this manner, firing as fast“as 1 could load my 
un.” ‘ , 
This bird occurred to the late Dr. Walker, at Balkchulish, in Argyleshire, in 
1792. Another svecimen was taken near Howes, in Wensleydale, Yorkshire, by 
eee * Zsq., and communicated to the London Society, November, 
23, — ED. 
