34 ANIMAL LIFE IN AFRICA 



1 ever noticed them shepherding guinea-fowl or francolins 

 in the manner of the truly predatory birds. 



One of the best known of the kites is the Yellow- Billed 

 Kite. These birds are partially migratory, arriving in 

 south Africa during September, and being seldom seen 

 after the middle of March. However, they go no farther 

 north than Mogambique, where I have seen them in 

 great numbers in July, and they were very numerous 

 at all the up-country Portuguese posts as far as Lake 

 Nyasa in August. They are great carrion eaters, and 

 also destroy large numbers of locusts and other insects. 

 TJiey have the reputation of being confirmed foes of 

 young chickens, though I have not personally known 

 any of the large numbers present around Sabi Bridge 

 about the end of each year to sin in this respect. I 

 believe it to be a vice acquired by individuals, through 

 familiarity with man and his surroundings, and that the 

 killing of warm-blooded animals is not really natural to 

 the birds. Major Fraser says: "After seven years of 

 innocent life, the yellow-billed kites started on my 

 chickens ; I shot two with chicks in their claws ; none 

 have erred since, and so I take it that pair learned evil 

 ways elsewhere. ' ' They have a way of suddenly swooping 

 down, just grazing the ground, to carry off any piece 

 of meat or offal that may be lying thereon, and are always 

 extremely bold and careless of man's presence. In 

 November and December they are numerous along the 

 Sabi. Through January and February they are less and 

 less seen, and have entirely disappeared by the end of 

 March. I have seen pairs nesting in December near the 

 Sabi. The nests are large rough structures of sticks, 

 and are made in high trees. 



The Black- Shouldered Kite is a handsome little bird, 

 easily distinguished by its habit of remaining poised in 



