162 BIRDS 



{Milvus oegyptius parasitus), which is really extremely 

 abundant. It was noticeable that the hiUs on certain 

 islands, such as Kizima, always had a number of kites 

 soaring over them, and it seems probable that the small 

 area of heated lands surrounded by cooler water caused 

 a continual up-current of air on which it was easier for 

 them to soar. 



Their shrill, quavering cry is very characteristic and 

 quite pleasant to hear. I think there are in proportion to 

 area many more kites among the islands than on the main- 

 land, at any rate the cry is not nearly so often heard at 

 Entebbe or Jinja. Possibly this is because they are in a 

 manner scavengers of the surface of the lake, and will 

 swoop down and pick up small fish, or dead fish mangled 

 by gulls, or other objects floating on the surface. But 

 their appetites are all embracing. A grass fire will attract 

 numbers of them, as well as of other birds, who sail round 

 and round ready to pounce on grasshoppers and other 

 insects fleeing before the flames. 



When winged termites swarm out of the ground in 

 times of rain, kites speedily collect and circle round and 

 round, catching the feebly flying termites in their feet. 

 It is pretty to see one while on the wing stretch his foot 

 forward and take the food from it with his beak in an 

 easy, leisurely manner. The kite is not above trying to 

 rob other birds of their prey, and will swoop down upon 

 one in the endeavour to make it drop the fish which it 

 has picked up for itself. 



Another smaller kite, known as " Ma'ga " by the 

 natives {Elanus ccendeus), is quite common on certain open 

 grassy islands. It is of a soft dove-grey and white. Its 

 habit of hovering vertically over one spot with rapidly 

 beating wings deceived me into thinking it was a species 

 of kestrel, but I was put right by Mr. C. F. Belcher. While 

 in camp at Jinja in 1910 I used to watch these birds 

 carry the mice which they had caught on to a certa'-n 



