46 cassell's book of birds. 



pale yellow feathers, having dark shafts ; the upper part of the breast is yellow, streaked with brown, 

 and the feathers on the under part of the body are rust colour, tipped with a light shade ; most of 

 the secondary quills, and all the tail-feathers, are grey. In the female the top of the head and nape 

 are yellow, striped with brown, the rest of the mantle is reddish brown ; the shoulder and upper wing- 

 covers of the axillary region are yellow, streaked with brown ; the throat is yellow, the cheeks and 

 fore part of the body reddish brown. The young are usually dark brown, with yellow heads, but 

 vary much in their plumage. The feet of all are pale yellow ; the beak is black ; the eye of the adult 

 bird yellow ; that of the young, nut brown. It is at present uncertain to what countries the habitat 

 of this species is restricted, as it has been occasionally met with in many parts of the world. Marshy 

 districts afford its favourite retreats, and it is constantly seen in the vicinity of water or bog land, 

 carefully avoiding high, dry plains, or mountainous regions. During the winter this Harrier is one 

 of the commonest birds of India and Egypt. It reaches Europe about March, and at once takes 

 possession of its appropriate haunts. In its mode of life and habits it so closely resembles the Blue 

 Kite that further description would be mere repetition. Its food consists principally of water and 

 marsh birds, frogs, fish, and insects ; according to Jerdon, it will also eat shrew mice and water rats. 

 Large eggs it opens with great dexterity, small ones are devoured whole ; with Swan's eggs it appears 

 to be unable to grapple, for Naumann mentions having seen a Reed Kite turning them over, and 

 vainly endeavouring to get at the interior : it is no doubt from fear of this voracious enemy that 

 many birds are at such pains to conceal their nests. From the breeding season until autumn this 

 species pursues all kinds of Water Fowl with insatiable avidity; it is in vain that the quarry endeavours 

 to elude pursuit by diving ; old Ducks alone seem capable of chasing away the unwelcome intruder, 

 who, however, revenges itself for their temerity, by destroying all the unprotected ducklings that stray 

 into its vicinity. In India this bird often exhibits great hardihood ; indeed, it is not uncommon 

 for it to seize upon a Snipe at the very moment that the sportsman is about to fire. The eyrie is 

 formed in beds of reeds, and is a mere rude mass of flags, rushes, or similar materials carelessly 

 heaped together. The brood consists of from four to six large greenish-white eggs, which are 

 hatched by the female alone, who is meanwhile entertained by the antics of her mate ; the latter 

 amusing himself by performing every conceivable kind of vagary in the air, accompanying his motions 

 by alternately lively and lugubrious cries for whole hours at a time. The young are tended with 

 much care by both parents. As may be imagined, the enemies of the Reed Kite are neither few nor 

 backward in their attacks ; the flocks of Crows alone must occasionally make its life wearisome, for 

 they allow no opportunity of annoying or pursuing it to escape their vigilance. In some parts of 

 Asia the Reed Kite is trained to hunt Ducks ; but in Europe, as far as we are aware, this has never 

 been attempted. 



Several species of Kites inhabiting New Holland, are distinguished from those already 

 described by their plumage. These birds have been grouped together under the name of 

 SPOTTED KITES (Spilocircus). 



JARDINE'S SPOTTED KITE. 



Jardine's Spotted Kite (Spilocircus Jardinii) is about the size of the Reed Kite. The feathers 

 upon its cheeks, ear-covers, and the top of its head are nut brown, streaked with blackish brown 

 upon the shafts ; the face, breast, and back are dark grey ; the under side of the wings, belly, and legs 

 are reddish brown ; most of the feathers upon the wings and lower part of the breast are marked with 

 round white spots upon each side of the shaft ; the quills are dark, and the tail-feathers striped 

 alternately with brown and grey. The beak is grey at the base, and black at its tip ; the feet are 



