216 
LETTERS FROM ALABAMA. 
smaller and more ignoble birds of prey. Owls 
catcb them in their evening wanderings^ for I have 
found the stomach of an owl crammed full of the 
bones of small lizards. But I rather think that 
our lizards are almost exclusively diurnal in their 
habits, and therefore must be exposed to the 
predatory assaults of the weaker Hawks. The 
Swallow-tailed Kite {Elanus furcatus) is one of 
these, a bird of more than ordinary elegance, which 
has recently appeared with us, and may now be 
seen nearly every day associating in little groups. 
Their habit is to sail round and round on the wing 
in wide circles, sometimes at an immense elevation 
over the lofty woods ; at other times they swoop 
down towards the bushes and herbage of the fields, 
and sweep to and fro among the trees ; doubtless 
in pursuit of prey, for an attentive eye may now 
and then observe them raise one foot to the beak 
with a rapid movement, and deliver something to 
the mouth. 
The appearance of these birds in tlie air is very 
beautiful. The fine contrast of the colours, pure 
white on the head, neck, and whole lower parts, 
and deep glossy black on the back, wings, and 
tail ; the size of the bird, a full-grown male mea- 
suring two feet in length, and nearly five feet in 
spread of the expanded wings ; and the remarkable 
elegance of its figure, produced by its slenderness, 
its small head, and the great length of its pointed 
wings and tail, in which it exceeds the swallow, — 
all combine to attract admiration. The grace of 
its motions, too, in the air, is admirable ; it con- 
tinues to sail about for hours without resting, ap- 
parently without effort, now coursing around our 
heads, now chasing its fellows in amicable play, 
