72 
FALCO MISSISSIPPIENSIS, 
black ; tail, very slightly forked, of an ash colour, faintly 
tinged with brown, crossed with four broad bands of 
black, and tipt with white ; tail, three inches longer 
than the wings ; over the eye extends a streak of dull 
white ; chin, white, mixed with line black hairs ; breast 
and belly, beautifully variegated with ferruginous and 
transverse spots of white } femorals, the same ; vent, 
pure white ; legs, long, very slender, and of a rich 
orange yellow ; claws, black, large, and remarkably 
sharp ; lining of the wing, thickly marked with heart- 
shaped spots of black. This bird, on dissection, was 
found to be a male. In the month of February, I shot 
another individual of this species, near Hampton, in 
Virginia, which agreed almost exactly with the present. 
SUBGENUS VI. ICTINIA , VIEILL. 
15 . FALCO MISSISSIPPIENSIS, WILSON. — MISSISSIPPI KITE. 
WILSON, PLATE XXV. FIG. I. MALE. 
This new species I first observed in the Mississippi 
territory, a few miles below Natchez, on the plantation 
of William Dunbar, Esq. To the hospitality of this 
gentleman, and his amiable family, I am indebted for 
the opportunity afforded me of procuring this and one 
or two more new species. This excellent man, whose 
life has been devoted to science, though at that time 
confined to bed by a severe and dangerous indisposition, 
and personally unacquainted with me, no sooner heard 
of my arrival at the town of Natchez, than he sent a 
servant and horses, with an invitation and request, to 
come and make his house my home and head-quarters, 
while engaged in exploring that part of the country. 
The few happy days I spent there I shall never forget. 
In my perambulations I frequently remarked this 
hawk sailing about in easy circles, and at a considerable 
height in the air, generally in company with the turkey 
