The MISSISSIPPI KITE (_Ictinia Mississippensis_) is about fourteen inches
long and thirty-six broad. The head, nape, and entire upper portions of
the body are blueish white; the back, wings, and tail, black, enlivened
by a greenish gloss; the secondary quills are tipped with greyish white,
the outer web of the primaries being of a brilliant red; the eye is deep
red; the beak, and a place round the eye, black; the foot is bright red.
"When spring arrives," says Audubon, "the Mississippi Kite extends its
migrations as high as the city of Memphis, on the noble stream whose
name it bears, and along our eastern shores to the Carolinas, where it
now and then breeds, feeding the while on lizards, small snakes, and
beetles. At times, congregating to the number of twenty or more, these
birds are seen sweeping round some tree, catching the large locusts which
abound in those countries at an early part of the season. The Mississippi
Kite arrives in Lower Louisiana about the middle of April, in parties
of five or six, and confines itself to the borders of deep woods, or to
those near plantations, not far from the shores of the rivers, lakes,
or bayous. It never moves into the interior of the country; plantations
lately cleared, and yet covered with tall, dying, girted trees, placed
near a creek or bayou, seem to please it best.
"Its flight is graceful, vigorous, protracted, and often extended to
a great height, the Fork-tailed Hawk being the only species that can
compete with it. At times it floats in the air as if motionless, or sails
in broad, regular circles, when, suddenly closing its wings, it glides
along to some distance and renews its curves. Now it sweeps, in deep and
long undulations, with the swiftness of an arrow, passing almost within
touching distance of a branch on which it has observed a small lizard,
or an insect it longs for, but from which it again ascends disappointed.
Now it is seen to move in hurried zig-zags, as if pursued by a dangerous
enemy, sometimes seeming to turn over and over like a Tumbling Pigeon;
or it may be observed flying round the trunk of a tree to secure large
insects, sweeping with astonishing velocity. While travelling, it moves
in the desultory manner followed by Swallows, but at other times it
is seen in company with the Fork-tailed Hawk, at a great elevation,
among the large flocks of Carrion Crows and Turkey Buzzards, dashing at
the former and giving them chase, as if in play, until these cowardly
scavengers sweep downwards; it then abandons this apparently agreeable
sport to the Hawks, who now continue to gambol undisturbed. When in
pursuit of a large insect or a small reptile, this Kite turns its body
sideways, throws out its legs, extends its talons, and generally seizes
its prey in an instant. It feeds while on wing, apparently with as much
ease and comfort as when on the branch of a tall tree. It never alights
on the ground; at least, I have never seen it do so, except when wounded,
and then it appears extremely awkward. It never attacks birds, or
quadrupeds of any kind, with a view of destroying them for food, although
it will chase a fox to a considerable distance, screaming loudly all the
while, and soon forces a Crow to retreat to the woods."
The eyrie of the Mississippi Kite is always placed at the summit of a
lofty tree, the magnificent white oaks and magnolias with which the
Southern States are so plentifully adorned being usually preferred. The
nest is very simple in its construction, resembling that of the Common
Crow; it is composed of twigs thrown lightly together, and lined with
Spanish moss, dry leaves, and the bark of the wild vine. The eggs, two
or three in number, are round and of a green colour, thickly covered
with black or dark chocolate spots. Both parents assist in the work of
incubation, and protect their young with so much ardour that they will
even attack men, should they attempt to molest the little family. The
nestlings when first fledged resemble their parents, and attain their
full beauty of plumage before their first migration. The capture of these
birds is not difficult, for, though they fly at a very considerable
height, they are by no means shy, and, when perched at the summit of a
lofty tree, are easily brought down with the gun.
* * * * *
The CROOKED-BILLED KITES (_Cymindis_) are recognised by their lengthy
bodies and unusually long and pointed wings, in which the fourth quill
is the longest; the tail is of considerable length, composed of broad
feathers, and rounded slightly at its tip; the feet are short and weak,
the tarsi slender, and partially covered with feathers on the upper side;
the toes are feeble, and furnished with thin, but slightly curved and
very long talons; the beak is high, and much compressed at its sides; the
culmen is narrow, and the margin straight; the upper mandible extends
considerably beyond the under portion of the beak, and terminates in
a hook; the plumage is very rich, and composed of large feathers; its
markings resemble those of the Hawks.