524 SYSTEMA TIC SYNOPSIS. — RAP TORES — A CCIPITRES. 
gonys convex, ascending ; cere short ; nostrils small, subcircular ; loral bristling slight ; super- 
ciliary shield small, in one piece. Wings of moderate length, ample ; 3d quill longest ; 2d but 
little shorter; 1st 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 i 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 length 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 
Fig. 367. — Left, Mississippi Kite, | nat. size; riglit, Swallow-tailed Kite, ^ 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 aerial gyrations ; somewhat gregarious like other MilvincB, and 
preying upon the humblest quaiTy, especially insects and small reptiles, 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. 
491. I. svibcoerulea. (Lat. suhcoerulea, bluish.) Mississippi Kite. Adult ^ 9 '• General plumage 
plumbeous or dark ashy-gray, bleaching on the head and secondaries, blackening on the tail 
and wings, several primaries more (^) or less (9) suffused with chestnut-red on the inner 
