BIRDS OF PREY, 39 



THE GOVINDA. 

 The Govinda (Hydroidinia Govinda), as the Indian species is called, is found, according to 

 Jerdon, throughout the whole of Hindostan, up to an altitude of 8,000 feet, and is one of the birds 

 commonly met with in India, where it frequents all large towns or populous places, and proves itself a 

 most bold and impudent thief. It will follow travellers in hopes of being able to steal their food, and 

 even snatch a dainty morsel from the table, under the very eyes of its lawful owner. It not only drives 

 its own species and other birds from a meal that has caught its fancy, but often pounces upon fine full- 

 grown Hens and Parrots. Bligh informs us that it will also eat Crows. According to our own obser- 

 vations, the Govindas often congregate in large companies, on which occasions they seem to come 

 together from all parts of the neighbourhood, to hold, as it were, a kind of " palaver," and compare 

 their experiences. The Govinda pairs about Christmas, and breeds from January to April. The nest 

 is placed upon trees or high buildings, and is formed of twigs or branches, lined with some soft 

 material. The eggs are from two to three in number. 



THE PARASITE KITE. 



The Parasite Kite (Hydroidinia parasitica) is found in large numbers throughout the whole of 

 North-eastern Africa, and is a constant frequenter of the banks of the Nile and shores of the Red Sea. 



Unlike most of its congeners, this bird always seeks the society of man, and, as its name indicates, 

 obtains its principal means of subsistence, not by its own exertions, but by unceasing thefts and petty 

 pilfering ; indeed, amongst the many troublesome members of the feathered tribes by which African 

 towns are visited, the Parasite Kite stands pre-eminent for audacity and persevering cunning. Perched 

 upon a lofty palm-tree or slender minaret, it surveys the people that pass beneath with so keen and 

 appreciative an eye, that we have been sometimes almost tempted to imagine that it was actually 

 capable of understanding what the various signs of daily life indicated, and had made the habits of 

 mankind a subject of most sagacious study. Is a sheep led through the streets on its way to the 

 slaughter-house, this bird is sure to follow in the wake, and obtain more than its share of the pickings. 

 Woe to the buyer in the market-place who may happen to accost a neighbour, in momentary forget- 

 fulness of the basket that contains his dinner ! In the twinkling of an eye, the watchful thief has 

 swooped noiselessly down, and is off with the prize before the unlucky owner has had time to turn 

 his head. All attempts to frighten the marauder into dropping its booty are upon such occasions 

 entirely useless. Fear of man it has none, and will snatch a tempting morsel from his hand with as 

 much coolness as it exhibits in defrauding its congeners of their hardly-earned repasts. The nobler 

 Birds of Prey appear thoroughly to despise the miserable thief who is constantly hovering about in 

 order to harass them, and at once throw down their prey, as if in contempt of the wily intruder. We 

 have seen the Peregrine Falcon thus cast away four different captures in the course of a few minutes, 

 each time returning to obtain a fresh supply for its own breakfast. The Parasite Kites are usually 

 seen flying about in flocks numbering some fifty or sixty birds ; it is only during the breeding season 

 that they live in pairs. The eyrie of this species is built upon a high tree or steeple, and almost every 

 minaret in Cairo is decorated with several of these structures. The eggs, from three to five in 

 number, are laid about February ; by the end of May the young are fully fledged, and quite capable 

 of stealing on their own account. The parents exhibit great attachment and courage in their care of 

 their family. 



The general appearance and size of the Parasite Kite corresponds very closely with that of the 

 Black Kite, except that the plumage is somewhat lighter than in that bird, and the beak yellow. This 

 species is called " Hitaie " by the Arabs, that word being supposed to represent its cry, of which the 



