KITES 



103 



fearful chicken-thief, but they may confuse it with several 

 other species. It feeds mainly on mice and rats, reptiles and 

 insects, varied by an occasional small bird or chicken. 



It is slate-grey above, with the basal half of the wings 



Fig. 54. — Black-shouldered Kite, 

 black, the remainder of the wings being like the back ; black 

 in front and behind the eye ; lower surface white, tinged 

 with blue-grey on the breast. Length, about 12 inches. 

 It builds a rough, saucer-shaped nest of twigs in a mimosa 



