MILVIN/E. 
second and third quills the longest. Tail very long, and deeply emarginated. Tarsi very short, with 
the basal half plumed, and the rest covered with small scales. Toes short, free, and padded beneath, 
with the lateral toes nearly equal, the inner one the longest, and the hind toe long. 
The two species inhabit South America and Africa; the former is sometimes seen also in the United St: 
England. Their flight is easy and graceful, when sweeping among the trees in the manner of swallows, » pursuit of 
insects. In the early part of May, when a species of cicada, or locust, swarms among the trees of America, these b ids 
•nay be observed frequently snatching them from the trees during their flight. They also feed on reptdes, and arc said 
to carry their prey in their claws, and feed as they fly. The nest is formed outwardly of stocks intermixed with moss, 
and lined with coarse grass and a few feathers. The eggs are four to six in number. 
1. Kfurcatus (Linn.) Vigors, Catesb/s Carol, pi. 4., Wils. I 2. N. Riocouri (Vieill.) Vigors, Gal. des Ois. t. l6., Tcmm. PI. 
Amer. Orn. pL 51. f. 2 Elanoides yetapa Vieill. ? | col. 85. 
Rostuhamus Less.* 
Lit, l long, very slender, compressed, and much hooked and acute at the tip , the nostrils basal 
lateral, with the opening suboval. Wings long and pointed, with the third and fourth quills nearly 
equal and longest. Tail moderate and emarginated. Tarsi lengthened, half plumed, and the apical 
half scutellated. Toes lengthened, strong, the inner toe the longest, and the hind toe as long as the 
inner one ; the claws very long and acute. The lores naked. 
The typical species of this genus is found in the warmer parts of America, especially near the Rio dc la Plata. It 
lives chiefly near stagnant water, preying on toads and frogs, or else is seen perched on t. ic 
R. hamatus (Illig.) PI, C ol. 91. 231. Herpetotheres sociabilis | Rostrhamus mger Less. Mag. tit Zool. 1834. Ois. 
I'ieill. Ency. MAh. 1248. ; Falco leucopygius Spins, Av. Bras. t. 2. ; | 
Cymindis Cuv. t 
Till moderate, elevated, much compressed on the sides, and the culmen gradually slopin^ to the p, 
which is hooked and acute ; the nostrils basal, lateral, obliquely transverse, and narrowed T mgs ong, 
with the third, fourth, and fifth quills nearly equal and the longest. Tail long and rounded, larsz 
short, strong, with the basal half plumed, and the rest covered with small scales. Joes long, veiy 
robust, with the inner toe longer than the outer, and the claws long, stron & , and curve 
Tropical America is the peculiar country of the mpccieh of this D eni 
r o r vneinatus (Temm.) PI. col. 103, 104, 105. — Falco vitti- 
C. cayanensis (Gmel.) Cuv. PI. enl. 473. — Astunna cyanopus ; 2. C. uncinatus (. ) 
LteiU. Mag. de Zool. 1 835. Ois. t. 22. ; Falco palliatus Temm. PI. caudus Pr. Max. ■ 
col. 2 04 . ; Cymindis buteonides Less. 
ElANUS 
m short, very broad at the base, and compressed towards the tip, which is hooked and acute; the 
nostrils large and suboval. Wings very long, pointed, and reaching beyond the tad, with the seconc 
* Established by M. Lesson (Traite d’ Ornithologie, p. 55.). , -, h r ep todon (1836') of M. Sundevall, and 
+ This genus was established in 1817 by Cuvier, in his Regne Animal, p. 319- Hisequa. 
O'hntriorcMs (1844) of' M. Kaup. , , .. . . • im It is coequal with Elanoides of Vieillot 
, t U was in the Histoire.de VEgypte, p. 98., that Savigny established this division in 1809- 1 
(1825). 
