Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume X.djvu/26

 20 KITE American kites belongs the genus nauclerus (Vig.), with long pointed wings and deeply forked tail. The swallow-tailed kite (N.fur- catus, Linn.) is about 2 ft. long, with an extent of wings of 4 ft. ; the back, wings, and tail are black, with a metallic lustre, purple on the wing coverts ; head, neck, under wing coverts, base of secondaries, and lower parts white ; tarsi and toes greenish blue ; bill horn color. This species is found in the southern Atlantic states, and in the interior from Texas to Wis- consin ; it is accidental in Europe. The flight of this bird is exceedingly graceful and rapid. Flocks of 15 or 20 are often seen ; they arrive in the gulf states early in April, probably from Mexico and Central America, and disappear in September ; they are shy, on the wing during most of the day, and at night resting on the highest trees ; they feed during flight, and in calm weather soar to an immense height in pursuit of large insects ; the gait on the ground is very awkward. The nest resembles that of the crow, and is usually placed in the top of a tall tree ; the eggs, four to six, are greenish white, with irregular brown blotcbtes at the larger end. In the genus elanus (Sav.), found in the warmer parts of the globe, belongs the white-tailed or black-shouldered kite {E. leucu- rus, Vieill.) ; the length is about 16 in. and the extent of wings about 3 ft., in the female ; the wings are long and pointed, but the tail is moderate and emarginated ; the head, tail, and under parts are white ; above light ashy, with an oblong black patch on the shoulder formed by the lesser wing coverts; inferior wing coverts white, with a smaller black patch; the middle tail feathers are light ashy; bill dark; tarsi and toes yellow. It is found in Mississippi Kite (Ictinia Mississipiensis). the southern and western states, and in South America ; rarely seen north of South Carolina on the Atlantic coast, it occurs considerably further north on the Pacific. It flies very high and is not easily approached in its favorite marshy retreats ; it feeds on small birds and KITTATINNY large insects, especially orthoptera, and is very bold in their pursuit. The Mississippi kite (ic- tinia Nississipiensis, Wilson), of the southern states, Texas, and New Mexico, a smaller spe- cies, approaches nearest to the true falcon. A species of the genus rostrhamus (Lesson), gen- erally South American, has been found breed- ing in Florida ; this is the black kite ( R. soci- abilis, Vieill.), remarkable for its slender and much hooked bill; it is about 16 in. long, of a black color, with base of tail and its under coverts white; the young birds are more brownish and yellow ; it preys principally on reptiles, and perches on the loftiest trees. Of the kites of the old world, the best known is the common milvus regalis (Briss.) of Europe, of a reddish brown color above, with blackish longitudinal streaks, and the lower parts light brownish red with narrower streaks ; the fe- male is about 26 in. long, with an extent of wings of 5J ft. The flight is remarkably powerful and elegant; the food consists of small quadrupeds, birds, reptiles, insects, car- rion, and even fish. It is found in Europe, N. Africa, and W. Asia, in almost all regions, both wild and inhabited ; it sometimes steals a young chicken when the hen is off her guard, but dares not make a direct attack in her presence. RITSAP, a N. W. county of Washington terri- tory; area, 400 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870, 866. It is a peninsula, having Hood's canal on the west and Admiralty inlet on the east and north. It includes Bainbridge and Blane islands. The production of lumber is the principal indus- try. In 1870 there were three planing mills, with an annual production valued at $588,000, and three saw mills, producing $520,000 worth of lumber. Capital, Port Madison. RITTAMING, a borough and the capital of Armstrong co., Pennsylvania, situated on a broad alluvial plain on the E. bank of the Alleghany river, and on the Alleghany Valley railroad, 38 m. N. E. of Pittsburgh; pop. in 1870, 1,889. In the hills skirting and opposite the borough are found, nearly horizontal, one stratum of cannel and five of bituminous coal, and two each of iron ore and limestone ; also pure fire clay and good building stone. It has gas and water works, and contains three iron founderies, a rolling mill, two flouring mills, a planing mill, a brewery, a tannery, two banks, two schools, three weekly newspapers, and eight churches. RITTATIMY, or Bine Mountains, a chain which commences in Ulster co., N. Y., and crossing the N". W. part of New Jersey passes into Penn- sylvania, where it forms one of the principal mountain ridges of the state. It is broken by the Delaware river at the Water Gap, by the Lehigh at Wind Gap, by the Schuylkill above Hamburg, and by the Susquehanna about 5 m. above Harrisburg. Between it and the N. branch of the Susquehanna, a distance of about 35 m., is the great anthracite region. Passing out of Pennsylvania, its course is less marked as it approaches the South mountains and the