70 FALCON1D.E. 



RA P TORES. FA LCONIDJE . 



PLATE XIV. 



SWALLOW-TAILED KITE. 

 Nauclerus Furcatus. 



This very rare species, a native of North America, has 

 in two instances only been recorded to have visited Great 

 Britain, driven probably by contrary winds from its periodical 

 course of migration through the American States. The first 

 of these occurred many years ago, in the year 1772, in Ar- 

 gyleshire, and the second in Yorkshire in 1805 ; since which 

 period no instance of its capture is known to have occurred. 



This elegant bird bears much resemblance to our common 

 Swallow in its form and manner of flying, in the length and 

 shape of its prolonged tail-feathers, and also in its manner of 

 taking its prey, which is always captured and devoured upon 

 the wing. By American authors we are informed that the 

 evolutions they perform when on the wing in pursuit of their 

 prey are remarkable for grace, ease, and rapidity. This con- 

 sists chiefly of aerial insects, with which the countries they 

 inhabit abound : they also feed upon reptiles, which they 

 sweep from the surface of the ground, or take from the 

 branches of the trees when passing along ; but they are said 

 in all cases to eat their prey while on the wing. 



They are found in the warmer parts of North America ; 

 also in a similar latitude south of the equator, towards which 

 they migrate at the approach of winter. They usually asso- 



