202 PRAIRIE BIRDS OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS. 
attention. -Numbers of exquisitely graceful swallow-tailed kites 
or “snake hawks” (Nauclerus forficatus, also locally known as 
“* fish-tail hawk”) were seen sailing about in every direction ; we 
were completely transfixed by the beautiful spectacle they pre- 
sented as they floated about in graceful circles, while they were so 
unmindful of us as to pass repeatedly within a few yards of us. 
Soaring gracefully above them with a similar flight were smaller 
numbers of the “ blue kite” (Ictinia Mississippiensis), which, more 
suspicious, seldom approached so near. The latter birds, though 
far less striking in appearance than the swallow-tails, were never- 
theless superior to them in power of flight, for they had a very 
interesting habit of suddenly pitching downward from a great 
height almost to the ground, and again ascending by a steep angle 
nearly to the level from which they started ; the whole perform- 
ance accompanied without a single flap of the wings, which in the 
descent were merely extended at the elbows and inclined inwards 
at the tip, and the rapid fall checked by suddenly extending the 
wings, which were thus held motionless as the bird mounted again. 
Frequently two or three would pass each other at different angles 
as they performed these beautiful evolutions, and presented a 
sight pleasing and interesting in the extreme. The power of 
flight of these kites may be better appreciated by the fact that they 
frequently appeared and passed rapidly and easily by the turkey 
buzzards (Cathartes aura) which happened to be sailing majesti- 
cally in the same direction. The swallow-tails were never noticed 
performing these evolutions ; though for ease and grace their buoy- 
ant, floating flight certainly cannot be excelled. 
. The swallow-tails were so numerous and tame that once, when 
half a dozen or so were sailing about, we killed one with each 
barrel of our gun, in quick succession. A couple of full-grown 
young of this species were seen upon a dead tree along the stream, 
and while we were watching them the parent bird approached, evi- 
dently with food for them, for they commenced dancing up and 
down upon the branch, and whistled impatiently, when she hovered 
over them. The Mississippi kites would never approach us near 
enough for a shot, so that we found them far more difficult to shoot 
than the swallow-tails. The three specimens obtained we secured 
by stratagem ; our most successful plan being to approach them in 
: a our. mae These ias were EAA observed resting upon 
Saas and by approach- 
* 
Age ee 
