THE EUROPEAN HONEY-KITE. 



289 



The presence of the Kite in London was useful in the old days, as its food consists by preference 

 of offal, though it also devours Moles, Frogs, and unfledged nestlings, Rabbits, Snakes, and fish. 

 The forked tail of this species which serves as a rudder to the bird when flying, as it often does, 

 in circles aloft easily distinguishes it from all other British birds of prey. The length of the 

 bird is about two feet, and the general colour of the upper plumage is rufous, most of the feathers 

 being edged with that colour. Below, it is rufous-brown, with a narrow streak of blackish down the 

 feathers ; the quills are black ; the 

 tail rufous-brown, deeply forked, 

 and crossed with seven or eight bars 

 of black. The species is found all 

 over Europe, but becomes gradually 

 rarer in the eastern parts. 



THE EUROPEAN HONEY-KITE 



(Pa his rtpirorus). 



This bird is generally known as 

 the Honey-Buzzard, though from 

 the reticulations on the hinder 

 aspect of the tarsus it has evidently 

 nothing to do with those birds, even 

 if its soft and kite-like plumage did 

 r.ot show its affinities to the Kites. 

 Its nostril is also peculiar, and is 

 closed in by a membrane, which 

 doubtless forms a protection from 

 the stings of insects when the bird 

 is attacking a Bee's or Wasp's nest. 

 Its habits have been well described 

 by Brehm.* This bird is, perhaps, 

 the most timid of all European 

 birds of prey, but is remarkable for 

 its good temper. Its movements 

 are in the highest degree clumsy ; 

 its flight is bad, heavy, and slow, 

 and is generally a short one, and 

 the bird shows a great disinclination 



to rise to any considerable height in the air ; in short, its whole bearing evinces the most lazy 

 disposition. It will sit for hours on a stone boundary wall, on a solitary tree or sign-post, or on some 

 other elevated spot, quite contented, watching its prey, which consists of the following : Insects of all 

 descriptions, Beetles, Caterpillars, Dragon-flies, Gadflies, Worms, Frogs, Snakes, Lizards, and destructive 

 Rodents, which form its principal food ; besides which it is very fond of hunting for the nests of the 

 Humble-bee and Wasp, and of feeding on their larvae. This bird also, unfortunately, destroys the 

 young, and especially the eggs, of such of the smaller birds as it comes across while hunting for 

 insects ; .this causes it to be looked upon as a disagreeable and hateful enemy by all birds. Crows 

 and Rooks mob the Honey-Buzzard with almost the same eagerness as they chase the Eagle-Owl, 

 and all small birds make a great noise at its appearance. In the summer it also feeds on buds, 

 blossoms, bilberries, other wood-berries, and even leaves. This habit distinguishes it from all other 

 German birds of prey. 



"The Honey-Buzzard reaches us somewhat late in the year, and commences to build its 

 nest when the other Raptors have hatched their broods. The nest is very flat, and is placed on 

 the highest of our forest trees; it is principally constructed of green twigs, mixed with dead 

 sticks, and is lined with moss, hair, and feathers. It generally contains three eggs, of a rusty 



* " Bird-life," p. 543. 



COM.MOX KITE. 



