124 BIRDS OF TUNISIA 



Description. — Adult female, sjjring, from North Tunisia. 



Forehead whitish-grey, becoming bluish giey on the crown and nape, 

 and slate-grey on the back, scapulars, rump and quills ; median and lesser 

 wing-coverts black ; the two middle rectrices bluish-grey, the remaining 

 tail-feathers whitish, with some grey on the inner webs ; entire underparts 

 silvery white, slightly tinged with pale grey on the sides of the breast. 



Iris orange-red ; bill black ; cere and feet yellow. 



Total length 13 inches, wing lOTo, culmen 1, tarsus 1'30. 



Adult male similar to the female. 



Observations. — This species seems to vary considerably in size, for I 

 have an example (sex not recorded) from Egypt, in which the wing 

 measures 1150 inches, whereas the usual length appears to vary from 

 10-25 to 10-75 inches. 



The Biack-wingecl, or Black-shouldered Kite, as it might more 

 correctly be styled, is not uncommon in Tunisia, and according to the 

 naturalist Blanc, is resident throughout the year in the Regency, 

 e.xamplcs being often brought to him for preparation, even in the 

 middle of winter. He, however, adds that it is more plentiful in 

 spring than at any other season, which is natural, as the bird is 

 migratory. 



In Algeria and Marocco the species is not uncommon, and accord- 

 ing to Loche (Expl. Scient. Alg. Ois. i, p. 83), it is generally dis- 

 tributed throughout the former country, and breeds there. This Kite 

 rarely strays north of the Mediterranean and although there are 

 undoubted instances of its occurrence from time to time in Europe, 

 the species can only be looked upon there as an occasional straggler. 

 It is, indeed, eminently a semi-tropical bird, its range extending 

 throughout the greater part of the African Continent. 



In its habits, the Black-winged Kite is said to resemble the 

 Harriers to a certain extent, and like those birds, it seems to be fond 

 of frequenting open fields and flat country in preference to moun- 

 tainous and thickly wooded districts. It appears, however, to be much 

 given to perching on trees and telegraph posts, whence a good look- 

 out can be obtained, the bird being exceedingly watchful and always 

 on the alert. Though generally met with singly or m pairs, this 

 species may sometimes be found congregating in certain numbers, 

 prol)ably cither when actually on passage, or when an abundance of 

 food in some particular spot forms an attraction. According to some 

 observers, the bird is crepuscular to a certain extent, and is often to 



