38 
BIRDS OF PREY. 
no doubt, abounds more along the immense valley of the Mis- 
sissippi than in the interior regions, and, besides large in- 
sects, probably often consists of small birds, lizards, snakes, 
and other reptiles, which swarm in these their favorite resorts. 
On the failure of food these birds migrate by degrees into the 
Mexican and South American provinces, and were observed 
by D’Azara in Guiana, about the latitude of f. According to 
Audubon, this Kite breeds in the Southern States as well as 
in lexas, selecting the tall magnolias and white-oaks. From 
the narrow limits within which this bird inhabits in the United 
States, It is more than probable that the principal part of the 
species are constant residents in the warmer parts of the Ameri- 
can continent. They begin to migrate early in August. 
The range of this species is given as “southern United States 
southward from South Carolina, and Wisconsin and Iowa to 
Mexico.” 
WHITE-TAILED KITE. 
BLACK-SHOULDERED KITE. 
Elakus LEUCURUS. 
Char. General color bluish gray fading to white on head and tail j a 
large patch of black on shoulder; lower parts white. Length n: to i63/ 
inches. o a /4- 
Nest. In a tree, loosely built of sticks and leaves. 
2-4; dull white, heavily blotched with brown, 1.60 x 1-25. 
I his beautiful Hawk, scarcely distinguishable from a second 
African species of this section, chiefly inhabits the continent 
of South America as far as Paraguay. In the United States it 
is only seeii occasionally in the peninsula of East Florida, con- 
fining its visits almost to the southern extremity of the Union. 
It appears to be very shy and difficult of approach ; flying in 
easy circles at a moderate elevation, or at times seated on the 
deadened branches of the majestic live-oak, it attentively 
watches the borders of the salt-marshes and watery situations 
