THE BIRD BOOK 
329. Mississippi Kite. 
Ictinia mississippiensis. 
Range. — Southeastern United States, north 
to South Carolina and Illinois. 
Bluish white 
White-tailed Kite 
Mississippi Kite 
A small species ( length 14 inches) with the 
head, neck, and undeparts gray, and the back, 
wings and tail blackish, the tips of the secon- 
daries being grayish. They live almost ex- 
clusively upon insects, such as grasshoppers, 
and small reptiles. They build their nests of sticks and weeds well up in tall 
trees. The eggs are two. or three in number and normally bluish white, un- 
marked, but occasionally with very faint spots of pale brown. Size 1.65 x 1.25. 
Data. — Giddings, Texas, May 31, 1887. Nest of sticks and weeds, with green 
pecan leaves in the lining; placed in the top of a live oak sapling, 20 feet from 
the ground. Collector, J. A. Singley. 
330. Everglade Kite. Rostrhamus sociabilis. 
Range. — South America, north to southern Florida and Mexico. 
This peculiar species has a long, slender, curved bill, blackish plumage, with 
white rump and bases of outer tail feather. They feed largely upon snails, 
both land and water varieties. They nest at a low elevation in bushes or under 
brush, often over the water. The nests are 
of sticks, weeds and leaves. The three eggs 
are light greenish white, spotted and splashed \ 
Pale greenish white 
with chestnut brown. Size, 1.70 x 1.30. Nest 
in a custard apple tree, 6 feet from the ground, 
built of twigs, lined with small vine stems and 
willow leaves, 
Everglade Kite 
202 
