292 
1CTIN1A M1SSISSIPP1ENSIS. 
Members of this genus have no ruff, or facial disk, nor are the ear cavities strikingly large. The leg is short and the 
tarsus is naked to the heel behind, but is slightly feathered in front. The claws are quite short but pointed. Only two 
outer quills are noticeably incised on the inner webs. 
The trachea is much flattened throughout. The sterno-trachealis is short, having its origin about '25 from the larynx, 
and there is a slender bronchialjs extending over all the half rings, but there are no other laryngeal muscles. The tympan- 
iform membrane is present and although there is a thin os transversale, it does not support a semilunar membrane. The 
walls of the oesophagus are thin: this is at first nearly straight, and is dilated into a crop, then is again straight and opens 
into a rather small proventriculus with simple, oval glands arranged in a zonular band which measures 1'50 in Mississippi- 
ensis, from which this and the following dimensions were taken. The stomach is of a medium size, somewhat globular 
in form, with thin but soft walls, and is lined with a soft membrane. The fold of the duodenum is long, measuring 3 00, 
inclosing a narrow pancreas which extends its entire length. The cceca are present but are small. The spleen is an ellip¬ 
tical body lying directly on the proventriculus. Both lobes of the liver are short and thick. The heart is large and not 
very pointed. Sexes, similar in color. There is but one species within our limits. 
ICTmiA MISSISSIPPIEKTSIS. 
Mississippi Kite. 
lctinia Mississippiensis Wilson, Am. Orn., Ill; 1811, 80. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Sp. Cn. Form, rather robust. Size, medium. Sternum, rather stout, with the marginal indentations varying with 
age. Tongue, short, not very fleshy, and about, the same width for nearly its entire length, then gradually rounded and bi¬ 
fid. Tail, square and slightly emarginate. Wings, very long. 
Color. ■ Adult. Head and neck all around, under portions, including under wing coverts, under tail coverts, and tib¬ 
ia, dark bluish-ash. Remainder ofupper portions, including wings, upper tail coverts, and tail, black, glossed with green. 
There is a longitudinal stripe extending over the middle portion of each primary, occupying the whole of the inner web and 
part of the outer, of bright chestnut. The tips of the secondaries are ashy-white. Lores and the narrow ring around eye, 
black. 
Young. Mixed with dull rufous and white above. Head and under parts, yellowish-white, with longitudinal stripes 
of reddish-brown, which are darker and more numerous on the head, and brighter and broader on the abdomen. 
Nestlings. Are at first covered with a yellowish down, then gradually assume the plumage last described. Bill and 
cere, bluish, iris, ruby-red, feet, orange, in all stages. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
There appears to be but little variation in specimens of the same age. Known from all other species which occur with¬ 
in our limits by the square tail, taken in connection with the peculiar, bright chestnut markings on the primaries, and the 
other colors as described. Distributed, as a common summer resident, up the Mississippi Valley as far as Southern Illi¬ 
nois. Rare in Florida and other Eastern Southern States, north as far as South Carolina. Winters in Central and South 
America. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Average measurements of male specimens from Southern United States. Length, I4'00; stretch, 36'00; wing, 1P00; tail, 
6 - 00; bill, '95; tarsus, 1'75. Longest specimen, 14'50; greatest extent of wing, 35'50; longest wing, 1P50; tail, fi'50; bill, 
100; tarsus, 1 80. Shortest specimen, 13'CO; smallest extent of wing, 35'00; shortest wing, 10'50; tail, 5 50; bill, '85; tar¬ 
sus, 1'60. 
Average measurements of female specimens from Southern United States. Length, 15'00; stretch, 35'00; wing, 11'50; 
tail, 6'50; bill, 1*00; tarsus, 1'85. Longest specimen, 15 50; greatest extent of wing, 36*75; longest wing, 11*60; tail, 7'00; 
bill, 1*10; tarsus, 1'95. Shortest specimen, 14'50; smallest extent of wing, 35'50; shortest wing, 11*40; tail, 6'00; bill, '95;. 
tarsus, 1'80. 
DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 
Nests, placed in trees. They are composed of sticks, carelessly arranged, intermingled with bunches of Spanish moss 
and lined with strips of bark and leaves. 
Eggs, two or three in number, rather spherical in form, greenish-white in color, thickly spotted and blotched with deep 
chocolate-brown and black. Dimensions from l'30x 1'50 to l'32x 152. 
