66 SOUTH-WESTERN ASIA 



Buzzards, Kites, As regards the buzzards, the European species is met with 



etc - in remote parts of Asia Minor, but in northern Africa, south-eastern 



Europe, and the corresponding latitudes of Asia is replaced by the African buzzard 



(Buteo desertorum), distinguished by its inferior size and the rusty hue of the tail 



and flanks. A relative of the buzzards, the serpent-eagle, a species indigenous to 



southern rather than to central Europe, is widely spread through south-western 



Asia as far as India. Possibly the sea-eagle nests in some parts of the area, 



but the osprey, although not fond of warm countries, occurs more frequently. 



The black- winged kite (Elanus cceruleus) ranges across to India, and is also met 



with in Africa and eastern Europe. Its prey consists of insects and small 



mammals, especially mice. The nest is often found on lemon or orange trees, 



especially in Egypt, where the bird is very tame, as it is never harmed. This 



kite is recognisable at a distance by its colour, which is not unlike that of a gull, 



being ashy grey above and white below. When hovering, it raises the tips of its 



wings above the body. Its total length is about 13 inches. 



The black kite may be regarded as a bird of the Mediterranean countries ; and 



the same may be said of the sparrow-hawk, which breeds in Asia Minor and Persia, 



as do the goshawk, the marsh-harrier, the hen-harrier, and Montagu's harrier. The 



pale harrier (Circus swainsoni), on the other hand, which inhabits the south of 



Europe, especially southern Russia, Turkey, Greece, and the countries of the lower 



Danube, ranges in Asia as far as India, and is found over the greater part of 



Africa. Never perching on trees, it spends the night on the ground in high 



grass or corn. The nest, which is made of grass, flags, and other plants twisted 



together in a slovenly way, is either placed on the ground before the reeds, grass, 



or corn are high enough to hide it, or in low bushes. In habits this shy and 



cautious bird is very like the hen-harrier, quartering the ground at a small height 



above it in search of prey, and often betraying the nest by indulging in eccentric 



performances around and above. It is paler above than the hen-harrier, the 



white upper tail-coverts are barred with grey, and there is no notch on the web of 



the fifth primary feather. 



Passing on to the vultures, the black or cinereous species 

 Vultures. ° r 



(Vultwr rnonachus) nests on old oaks, beeches, or limes in the depths 



of the forest ; and always where approach is easy from above. A favourite 



situation, for instance, is on the top of some dead tree which by its bare branches 



offers a convenient perching place. The nest, which is used for many years, and 



may sometimes be placed in crevices and on rocky ledges, is always large enough to 



completely hide the sitting bird from below. It consists of a foundation of stout 



sticks, with a superstructure of thinner twigs, and as a rule contains but one egg. 



The young vulture, which is nursed with the greatest care by the parents, is not 



able to seek its own food till three months old. The black vulture has an easy, 



sweeping flight, and often rises completely out of sight in the air. Subsisting 



partly on living animals, as, for instance, kids, dormice, lizards, and tortoises, this 



vulture feeds chiefly on decaying carcases, especially those of mammals, the bones 



of which it gnaws with the sharp notch in its beak, severing the flesh even when 



hard and dried, and sometimes devouring so much that it is scarcely able to move. 



Its range extends from the Mediterranean to China, but in northern Africa it inhabits 



