113 



328. Elanus leucurus (Vieill.). [427.] White-tailed Kite. 



A southern species, ranging from southern Illinois and Indian Terri- 

 tory to Chili and Buenos Ayres. In western Texas Mr. Lloyd records 

 it as a rare fall visitor. In the valley of the Lower Eio Grande it is 

 rather rare (Merrill and Sennett). In eastern Texas, near Houston, 

 Mr. Nehrling says of it: • 



This rare and beautiful bird I have seen several times sailing over cotton fields. 

 Its flight is easy and graceful, but not rapid; sometimes it stops a few moments and 

 then descends with great velocity to the ground to capture a lizard or a snake. It is 

 not shy, and is easily recognized by its white tail. 



329. Ictinia mississippiensis (Wils.). [428.] Mississippi Kite. 



Winters from the Southern States southward, and in summer passes 

 up the Mississippi Valley regularly to Kansas and southern Illinois, and 

 rarely to Wisconsin. At San Angelo, Tex., it is common in fall, and a 

 few remain through the summer. In the spring of 1881 it arrived at 

 Gainesville, Tex., April 23, and at Saint Louis, Mo., May 10. 



In the fall of 1884, during September and October, it was common in 

 small flocks at San Angelo, Tex. 



In the spring of 1885 it appeared at Gainesville, Tex., May 6. In the 

 fall of 1885 it was last seen at Saint Louis, Mo., August 18. In eastern 

 Texas, near Houston, it breeds, but is not common (Nehrling). 



331. Circus hudsonius (Linn.). [430.] Marsh Haivlc. 



Occurs over the whole of Manitoba and the Mississippi Valley in 

 summer, and from northern Illinois and northern Kansas southward 

 in winter. In western Texas it is an abundant resident. The most 

 northern record in the winter of 1883-'81 was from Vermillion, Dak., 

 where a few were seen in January. At Newton, Iowa, Mr. Preston says 

 they usually winter, but none were seen from the fall of 1883 until 

 March, 1881. At Caddo, Ind. Ter., they were twice as numerous dur- 

 ing the winter of 1883- '81 as all the other species of hawks together, 

 and were in the proportion of about three brown colored to one blue 

 individual. In the spring of 1881 they came .to Saint Louis, Mo., 

 and Newton, Iowa, March 10 and 11. March 18 they were seen at 

 Lanesboro, Minn.; March 21 at Elk River, Minn.; April 11 at Portage 

 la Prairie, Manitoba; and April 27 at Oak Point, Manitoba. 



During the winter of 1881-'85 the Marsh Hawk was plentiful at 

 Paris, 111. 



The notes on the spring migration in 1885 were very irregular, and 

 extended over an entire month, from March 9, when the first was noted 

 in central Iowa, to April 9, when it arrived at latitude 50° in Manitoba. 

 In the fall of 1885 the last at Ossowo, Manitoba, was seen November 

 12; at.Grinnell, Iowa, October 11; and November 6 it became common 

 at Bonham, Tex. 



7365— Bull. 2 8 



