BIRDS OF PREY. 



43 



THE DWARF SWALLOW-TAILED KITE. 

 The Dwarf Swallow-tailed Kite (Ckelidopterix Riocouri) is of a greyish blue colour upon the 

 upper part of the body, deeper in shade upon the head and shoulders than on the wings and tail. The 

 tips of the tail-feathers of the second order are white, the brow, bridles, cheeks, and under portions of 

 the body pure white ; the lower wing-covers and beak are black, and the feet yellow. In length this 

 species measures from thirteen to fourteen inches, of which seven belong to the tail ; the wing is about 

 nine inches long. Nothing is known of this rare bird, except that it is an inhabitant of the extensive 

 steppes of Central Africa, and appears regularly in Kordovan. We ourselves have never seen it, 

 except when soaring high in the air, only occasionally coming low enough to be recognised by the 

 naked eye. 



The FIELD KITES, or HARRIERS (Cirri), are birds of moderate size, characterised by their 

 elongated bodies, long, slender wings, broad but not large tails, long, weak, short-toed feet, and small, 

 but very decidedly-curved beaks, hooked at the extremity, and furnished with blunt denticulations. In 

 some species the feathers on the face are prolonged into a disc, and in all, the third and fourth quills 

 of the wings exceed the rest in length. The plumage is soft and very lax in the region of the neck. 

 The various members of this group belong rather to the earth than to the air, in which they seldom rise 

 to any considerable elevation : their days are passed in hovering over the surface of fields, meadows, 

 and pools, in search of birds, small quadrupeds, toads, and fish : they, however, only capture such 

 prey as either swims or runs on the ground, and never molest birds upon the wing. 



This family has been divided into two groups, known respectively as MEADOW KITES 

 (Slrigiaps) and MARSH KITES (Circus). 



The MEADOW KITES (Strigiceps) are recognisable by the clearly-defined disc upon the face, 

 and by the great variety observable in their, plumage at different ages, or according to the sex. 



THE BLUE KITE, OR HEN HARRIER. 

 The Blue Kite, or Hen Harrier (Strigiceps cyancus), is about seventeen inches long, of which 

 eight and a half belong to the tail ; its breadth is forty inches, and the length of the wing fourteen 

 inches. The plumage of the adult male is light greyish blue above, and white beneath ; the nape is 

 striped with brown and white ; the first quill is blackish grey, the five next are black, and only grey 

 or white towards the root, the rest are entirely grey. The tail is ornamented with a few dark spots. 

 The plumage of the female is yellowish brown, with white lines over the eyes, and reddish yellow 

 borders to the feathers on the hinder part of the head ; the under part of tire body is of the latter 

 colour, streaked longitudinally with brown. The pupil of the eye, cere, and feet, are lemon yellow, 

 and the beak greyish black. The young resemble the mother. 



THE KITE OF THE STEPPES, OR PALLID HARRIER. 



The Kite of the Steppes, or Pallid Harrier (Strigiceps pallidas), is about sixteen inches and 

 a half long and thirty-eight and a half broad ; its tail measures eight and a quarter and wing thirteen 

 inches. In the general coloration of its plumage this bird differs but little from the species last 

 described, though it is somewhat paler in tint, being of a leaden colour above and pure white upon the 

 lower portions of its body ; the tail and wings are distinctly striped with grey, and the wings tipped 

 with black. The adult female is brown ; the individual feathers of the mantle edged with a light 

 reddish shade ; the under side is pale reddish yellow, streaked with a darker tint. The young are 



