Identifier: royalnaturalhist47lyde (find matches)
Title: The royal natural history
Year: 1893 (1890s)
Authors: Lydekker, Richard, 1849-1915 Sclater, Philip Lutley, 1829-1913 Frostick, W. B., former owner. DSI Brooks, W. T., former owner. DSI
Subjects: Zoology Natural history
Publisher: London and New York : Frederick Warne & Co.
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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^h inches in length ; while theother species, which is a fiaction larger, extends from Mexico to Ihazil. FALCONS. 193 In its native land, ^^llel•e it is generally known as the Mississippi kite, thefigured species is a common bird in many districts, more especially in parts ofTexas. Its favourite feeding - grounds are said to be the cotton-fields; whereit may be seen at one moment soaring high in the air, and soon after just skim-ming above the tops of the plants, or flying between the rows. It seldom alights :but may now and then be observed perched on some dead tree, when it suffersitself to be approached within fifteen or twenty yards before taking wing. Thefood of this species is believed to consist mainly of large insects, probably
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MISSISSIPPI FALCON AND SWALLOW-TAILED KITE (i UUt. sizu;. supplemented with small rodents and reptiles. The nest is built in a tree, usuallyin a fork, and may be used for two or more seasons in succession. Usually buttwo or three eggs are laid, which differ from those of most members of the familyin being of a uniform l)luish white colour, witliout spots. In defence of theirnest and young these birds are said to dis^)luv great courage. The crested falcons, of which there are several species ranging from India tlirougli Malayana to North Australia, and to Africa, and Madagascar, differ, as we have seen, from the last genus by having two notches on the edge of the beak and by their shorter wings; while they are distinguished from all other mcmljers of the subfamily by the crest of elongated feathers at the VOL. IV.—13 Crested Falcons. 194 DIURNAL BIRDS OF PREY. back of the head. These birds vary from 14 to 17 inches in length, and many ofthem are remarkable for their handsome colorati

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