THE MISSISSIPPI KITE. 
53 
The very great proportionate length, of its wings may account for this habit ; the entire 
length of the body and tail being only fourteen inches, while the expanse of wing equals three 
feet. Being possessed of such power of flight, it emulates the swallow-tailed falcon in many 
of its evolutions, and in a similar manner is fond of sweeping rapidly past a branch, and 
snatching from the leaves a choice locust or beetle without checking its piogiess. Bike that 
bird it also feeds while on the wing, holding its prey in its claws and transferring it to its 
mouth without needing to settle. In character it seems to be a most fierce and courageous 
bird, as may be gathered from a short narrative given by Wilson of one of these birds which 
he had shot. 
< ‘ This Hawk, though wounded and precipitated from a vast height, exhibited in his dis- 
tress symptoms of great strength, and an almost unconquerable spirit. I no sooner appioacned 
to pick him up, than he instantly gave battle, striking with his claws, wheeling round and 
MISSISSIPPI KITE . — Ictinia mississippiensis. SWALLOW-TAILED FALCON . — Nauclerus forficatus. 
round as he lay partly on his rump, and defending himself with great vigilance and dexterity, 
while his dark-red eye sparkled with rage. Notwithstanding all my caution in seizing him to 
carry him home, he stuck his hind claw into my hand with such force as to penetrate into the 
bone. Anxious to preserve his life, I endeavored gently to disengage it ; but this made him 
only contract it the more powerfully, causing such pain that I had no alternative but that of 
cutting the sinew of his heel with my penknife. 
‘ ‘ The whole time he lived with me, he seemed to watch every movement I made, erecting 
the feathers of his broad head, and eyeing me with savage fierceness ; considering me no doubt 
as the greater savage of the two. What effect education might have had on this species under 
the tutorship of some of the old European professors of falconry, I know not ; but if extent of 
wing and energy of character, and ease and rapidity of flight, could have been any recom- 
mendation to royal patronage, this species possesses all these in a very eminent degree.” 
The attention of Mr. Wilson was greatly taken with these birds, and he on several occa- 
sions opened the stomachs of those which he had shot, in order to discover the food on whicn 
