SWALLOW-TAILED KITE. 67 



Rio Colorado, on the 36th of May, but, on shooting and dissecting them, 

 found that they had not at that date commenced breeding. Preparations 

 for nidification were, however, in progress ; and from what he observed of 

 their habits, he suggests that they may possibly breed in society — a fact 

 not at all unlikely when we bear in mind the gregarious habits of the bird. 

 He was told that the birds in Texas built high up in the oak, sycamore, 

 or cotton-wood trees. He did not at that time succeed in obtaining eggs, 

 but has since received them through Mr. Henry Buckley, and most kindly 

 lent them for use in the present work — probably the first authentic spe- 

 cimens of the eggs of this bird which have been figured. Two specimens 

 taken in Iowa differ considerably : the first is decidedly an Osprey type of 

 egg ; the second is very pale bluish white, irregularly and sparingly marked 

 with minute specks and one or two larger spots of rich reddish brown ; 

 the shell resembles that of a Harrier in grain, and possesses no gloss 

 whatever. They vary from 1"9 to 1'95 inch in length, and from 1"5 to 

 1'47 inch in breadth. Mr. Buckley^s correspondent asserts that the eggs 

 are usually two in number — a statement at variance with Audubon's. 



The colours of this very handsome bird are in bold contrast and decided. 

 The head and neck all round, the rump, and the whole of the underparts 

 are white, the remainder of the plumage being black with blue and purple 

 reflections. Cere pale blue ; irides red (but Audubon describes them as 

 black) ; feet dirty bluish Avhite according to Audubon, but yellow according 

 to Wilson; claws white or flesh-coloured. Male and female do not differ 

 in external characters, save that the latter bird is more robust and slightly 

 larger. 



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