uthern cities. Extremely graceful in the air, it is far from pleasing
when at rest. The two dull white, brown-marked eggs are laid on the
ground under logs, in crevices in rocks, etc., in March in Florida, in
April in Virginia.

BLACK VULTURE

_Catharista urubu urubu. Case 3, Fig. 10_

Head black, plumage without the brownish cast of
the Turkey Vulture.

_Range._ Eastern U.S., north to Virginia; an
abundant Permanent Resident. Washington, casual,
Mch., July, Dec.

The Vulture of southern cities; a frequenter of slaughter houses and
markets. In flight the under surfaces of the wing look silvery. It is by
no means so impressive a figure in the air as the Turkey Vulture. Two
pale bluish white eggs, generally with brown markings, are laid on the
ground under logs, bushes, palmettoes, etc., in March and April.

HAWKS, EAGLES, KITES, ETC. FAMILY BUTEONIDAE

SWALLOW-TAILED KITE

_Elanoides forficatus forficatus_

The head and lower parts are white, the rest of
the plumage glossy black; the tail deeply forked.
L. 24.

_Range._ Florida to South Carolina, and up the
Mississippi Valley rarely to Saskatchewan; winters
south of the United States, returning in March.

Washington, three records, Aug.; Apl. SE. Minn.,
uncommon S.R., May 4.

Color, form, grace, and power of motion combine to make the flight of
the Swallow-tail an impressive demonstration of the bird's mastery of
the air. It feeds on lizards and small snakes which it captures when on
the wing from the branches of trees. The nest is placed in the upper
branches of tall trees, 2-3 eggs heavily marked with brown being laid in
Florida in April; in Iowa in June.

WHITE-TAILED KITE

_Elanus leucurus_

A gray bird with white underparts, rather short
white tail and black shoulders. L. 15-1/2.

_Range._ Chiefly southwestern United States and
southward east to the lower Mississippi Valley.

This is a rare bird east of the Mississippi. It frequents open marshy
places and feeds upon small snakes, lizards, grasshoppers, etc., which
it captures on the ground. The nest is built in trees, and the 3-5 eggs,
heavily marked with brown, are laid in May.

MISSISSIPPI KITE

_Ictinia mississippiensis_

A slaty-blue bird with black tail and wings and
red eyes. L. 14