THE SWALLOW-TAILED KITE. 173 



April in the more southern portions of its breeding range, and correspondingly 

 later farther north, sometimes not before the first or second week in June. 



Two eggs are generally laid to a set, occasionally but one, and rarely three 

 or four. The average measurement of twenty specimens from different parts 

 of the United States is 47 by 37 millimetres. The largest egg in this series 

 measures 50 by 39, the smallest 41.9 by 34.5 millimetres. I consider these 

 eggs as handsome as those of any of our Raptores. They are usually oval in 

 shape; some approach an elliptical ovate. The shell is moderately smooth 

 and close grained. The ground color varies from a dull to an ashy white, 

 and again it may be a delicate cream color. 



The eggs are spotted and blotched with different shades of rich brown 

 and ferruginous, usually irregular in outline, and varying considerably in 

 amount. These markings sometimes form an irregular band running from 

 the center to the smaller end, and frequently become confluent Occa- 

 sionally a specimen is found in which the markings are very few and small 

 in size, scarcely any being larger than a No. 10 shot, and the majority 

 smaller. In a few specimens light lavender colored shell markings, generally 

 of small size, are also visible. There is a great deal of difference in the 

 style and markings of these eggs if a number are compared, but they can 

 readily be distinguished from the eggs of any of our Raptores. 



Of the type specimens, No. 20671, U. S. National Museum collection 

 (PI. 5, Fig. 1), selected from a set of two, represents one of the more lightly 

 marked types; it was originally in my collection, and taken in Black Hawk 

 County, Iowa, June 3, 1875. Another (PI. 5, Fig. 2), from the collection of 

 Dr. William L. Ralph, Utica, New York, also from a set of two, was taken 

 near San Mateo, Florida, April 14, 1888, and kindly loaned for the purpose 

 of figuring. 



6i. Elanus leucurus (Vieillot). 



WHITE-TAILED KITE. 



' Milvus leucurus Vieillot, Nouveau Dictionaire, xx, 1818, 563 (errore 556). 

 Elanus leucurus Bonaparte, Geographical and Comparative List, 1838, 4. 



(B 35, C 336, R 427, C 492, U 328.) 



Geographical range : Tropical and subtropical America (except West Indies), 

 north to South Carolina, southern Illinois (casual ?), the Indian Territory and middle 

 California. Accidental in Michigan. 



The breeding range of the White-tailed Kite, so far as is actually known 

 by the taking of their nests and eggs, seems to be confined to South Caro- 

 lina (where Mr. Ward, Audubon's assistant, found it nesting on the Santee 

 River early in March), Florida, the Indian Territory, Texas, and the middle 

 portions of California. 



It is said to occur in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and 

 southern Illinois, and probably breeds sparingly in all these localities, 



