A Swallow-tailed Kite at Saybrook 
Conn. 
Sitting at my window engaged in reading 
one i^leasant Sunday afternoon in June last, (the 
10th), my attention was called by a member of 
my family to a curious Hawk that was passing 
over; leisurely turning my attention from my 
printed book to the “Book of Nature” — for 
the gyrations of a Hawk, Red-tailed or Cooper, 
were no unusual spectacle — I was startled 
from my serenity at beholding something new 
to my vision, and in an incredibly brief 
space of time was out gazing with wondering 
eyes at the graceful evolutions of a Swallow- 
tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus). 
1 had read of this species “North to South- 
ern New England,” hut had viewed that ver- 
dict very questionable, as twenty years’ close 
observation had failed to confirm it, but in an 
instant all my doubts were swept away, for 
right before my eyes in plain view and near 
at hand was an unmistakable specimen grace- 
fully soaring in slowly receding circles; his 
long pointed, narrow wings, fully expanded 
tail with the outer feathers of great length, 
pure white under parts in contrast with the 
dark upper, presented distinctions so marked 
from all other native species that recognition 
was instantaneous and unmistakable. 
It was with covetous eyes that I stood and 
watched as he slowly receded from view 
toward the north, circling round and round 
with scarcely a motion of his wings, and 
drifting away with the gentle south wind. It 
sometimes takes years to form theories, but 
a moment suffices to sweep them away. 
John N. Clark. 
Saybrook, Conn. , 
O .&O. XIV. Aut^. ia89 p.123 
