44 



CASSELLS BOOK. OF BIRDS. 



recognised by the uniform colour of their lower parts. As a distinguishing mark between the Blue 



Kite and this bird we will add that in the former the fourth quill, and in the latter the third, is longer 



than the rest. 



THE MEADOW KITE, OR ASH-COLOURED HARRIER. 



The Meadow Kite, or Ash-coloured Harrier (Strigiceps cineraeeus), must be regarded as 

 representing a distinct group (Glaucopterix). This species is seventeen inches long and forty-two 

 inches broad ; the wing measures about fourteen inches, and the tail eight and a half. Its wings are 

 very long, and the facial discs but slightly developed. The head, mantle, throat, and upper part of 

 the breast are in the adult male greyish blue ; the feathers upon the belly and legs are white, with 

 reddish shafts. The primary quills are quite black, and the secondaries light greyish blue, marked 

 with irregular black streaks, which form a well-defined border on the outer wing. The tail is orna- 

 mented with four or five dark stripes. The adult female and young male are brownish grey, the 

 top of the head being red, striped with black. The lower portions of the body are white, marked 

 indistinctly with reddish spots. The very young birds are of a spotless rust-red beneath, and above 

 are covered with dark brown feathers, these latter being tipped with a reddish shade ; the eye is 

 almost surrounded by a large dark brown patch, under which is a white spot ; the rump is white, the 

 wing and tail feathers marked with irregular dark spots. The eye of the adult male is bright yellow. 



The Blue Kite, or Hen Harrier, the first of the three species above described, is found 

 throughout the greatest part of Europe and the whole of Central Asia ; it seldom, however, wanders 

 very far south, appearing but rarely in India, and being, we believe, unknown in Africa, where it is 

 replaced by 



The Pallid Harrier (Strigiceps pallidas), which is met with in large numbers from Egypt to 

 the western coast of Africa, but seldom makes its appearance in Southern Europe. 



The Ash-coloured Harrier (Strigiceps cineraeeus), on the contrary, belongs to the South-eastern 

 countries of the European continent, and the greater part of Asia ; it is also common in America. 

 All these three species so closely resemble each other in their habits and mode of life, that we shall 

 confine ourselves to a description of the Blue Kite, merely adding that the names Kite of the 

 Steppes and Meadow Kite, given to the other two, indicate the districts they principally frequent. 

 All are active, bold, and cunning : their flight, which is quiet and uncertain, often consists of a 

 mere hovering in the air; at such times the tips of the pinions are held above the body, and 

 the tail is slightly spread. This peculiarly irregular mode of progression renders it impossible 

 to mistake these Kites for any of their congeners if seen when upon the wing ; they usually fly 

 very near the ground, and but rarely soar to any considerable height. According to Naumann they 

 avoid lofty trees, and prefer to perch upon stones or hillocks, sleeping at night amongst grass, 

 reeds, or corn. Our own observations have proved that this peculiarity does not apply to the Pallid 

 species, which both sleeps and perches during the day among the branches of trees, never, however, 

 selecting such as are at the summit, but seeking a resting-place as near the trunk as possible, much 

 after the manner of the Owls. When upon the ground, these Kites run and hop with so much adroit- 

 ness and activity as frequently to succeed in capturing a mouse, whilst the latter is endeavouring to 

 save its life by speed. The early part of the day is spent in procuring food ; at noon they rest, and 

 then resume their labours until the shades of evening have fully closed in : owing to the extreme 

 keenness of their sight and hearing, they are capable of hunting almost in the dark, and can often 

 detect their prey by the sense of hearing alone. In disposition they are so inquisitive that almost any 



