80 



VERTEBRATA 





THE KITE. 



three, of a dirty white, with a few reddish -brown spots at the large end. The female lays early 

 in the season, and she often makes a vigorous defense when her nest is attacked. This species is 

 ••onimon in Middle Europe and Northern Asia. It was formerly used in falconry. 



The Black Kite, M. oetol'ms^ is common in Russia, and is found in the Caucasus and in Africa ; 

 the Parasitic Kite, M. parasiticus, is smaller than the common kite, and is found both in Eu- 

 rope and Africa. Other species are the Govinda Kite, M. Govinda ; Australian Kite, M. affi- 

 nis ; the Arabiax Kite, M. jEgyptius. 



Genus BUZZARD : Buteo. — These birds have a short bill wide at the base, wings long and 

 wide, tail rather wide, claws strong. There are nearly thirty species, inhabiting all countries. 

 The Common Buzzard of Europe — Buse of the French, Falco Pojana of the Italians, Mause-Falk 

 and Wald-Gerjer of the Germans — B. vulgaris, is twenty-two inches long ; the head is large and the 

 body heavy. Above, the color is chocolate-brown ; grayish-white beneath. The feathers are soft 

 and downy in texture, and as this bird preys late in the evening, it is deemed an approximation to the 

 owls. Its flight is low, and much of its time is spent in sitting on trees, in wooded districts, awaiting 

 its prey, which consists of small quadrupeds, birds, reptiles, insects, and earth-worms. Its nature 

 is slothful and cowardly, but it is very devoted to its young. If the female be killed, the male 

 will rear the brood. In England it builds its nest in the fork of a tree ; in Scotland on the brows 

 of rocks and precipices. It seems to be capable of some education, and such is its turn for 

 incubation, that in a state of partial domesticity, it has built a nest, and hatched the eggs of 

 liens, taking care of the young as if they were its own. This species is common all over the 

 wooded districts of Europe, and in some parts it is abundant : it is found in Northern Asia, and 

 in the northern parts of North America, though here it seems rare. Richardson states that it 

 arrives in the fur countries, from the South, in the middle of April, very soon afterward begins to 

 build its nest, and, having reared its young, departs about the end of September. Here it haunts 

 the low alluvial points of land which stretch out under the high banks of rivers, and may be 

 observed for a long time motionless on the bough of a tree watching for some small quadruped, bird, 

 or reptile, to pass within its reach. As soon as it espies its prey, it glides silently into the air, 

 and sweeping easily but rapidly down, seizes it in its claws. When disturbed, it makes a short 

 circuit, and soon settles on another perch. One of Sir John's specimens had two middle-sized 

 toads in his crop. It builds its nest on a tree, of short sticks, lining it with deer's hair. The eggs 

 are from three to five in number. 



