491. 
524 SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS. — RAPTORES— ACCIPITRES. 
gonys convex, ascending ; cere short; nostrils small, subcircular ; loral bristling slight; super- 
ciliary shield sinall, in one piece. Wings of moderate length, ample ; 3d quill longest ; 2d but 
little shorter; lst quite short, about equal to 6th; outer 2 emarginate on inner web, and next 2 
somewhat sinuate. Tail moderate, even or emarginate, the feathers broad to their obtusely 
rounded ends. Feet short and stout; tarsus scantily feathered about 4 way down in front, then 
scutellate, for the rest reticulate; middle toe without claw about as long as the tarsus; outer 
and middle toes connected by a basal web for the whole Jength of the basal joint of the latter ; 
inner toe without claw shorter than the outer, with claw longer, its claw being much larger 
than that of the outer toe, reaching beyond base of middle claw. Soles broad, especially under 
iN : oP = 
NAM See 
Fic. 367, — Left, Mississippi Kite, } nat. size; right, Swallow-tailed Kite, 3 nat. size. (From Brehm.) 
the hind toe, which is widely margined; claws short, stout, much curved. A genus of two 
species, confined to temperate and tropical America ; of great volitorial power, spending much 
of their time on the wing in aérial gyrations; somewhat gregarious like other Milvine, and 
preying upon the humblest quarry, especially insects and small r€ptiles, often feeding from their 
talons, as they sail through the air, after sweeping down upon their prey and seizing it as they 
pass without staying their flight. 
I. subceru/lea. (Lat. swbcwrulea, bluish.) Misstsstpp1 Kirg. Adult ¢ 9: General plumage 
plumbeous or dark ashy-gray, bleaching on the head and secondaries, blackening on the tail 
and wings, several primaries more (4) or less (?) suffused with chestnut-red on the inner 
