60 BIRDS OF THE WORLD 



quently dreaded by all who have to live in that region 

 of the world. The bird attacks and kills these rep- 

 tiles by pounding them with its feet, using its wings 

 as a shield against bites. On account of its valuable 

 services it is often domesticated by the colonists of 

 Africa. The Secretary-bird builds a huge nest of 

 sticks, in which the nestlings remain for six months. 

 See Plate 3, Fig. 13. 



One of the most interesting Birds of Prey is the 

 common Red Kite of Europe. It was once extremely 

 common, and was nowhere more plentiful than in 

 London, where its numbers excited the comment of all 

 foreign visitors. But that was several hundred years 

 ago, when it was unmolested, being highly valued as 

 a scavenger. It was also held in great esteem by the 

 falconer, who hunted it with trained Falcons. No bird 

 has a more beautiful flight than the Kite. See Plate 

 4, Fig. 17. 



The Swallow-tailed Kite of this country is a very 

 handsome bird, purplish-black on the back and wings, 

 with head, neck, and under-parts pure white. The 

 tail is extremely long and forked. Its flight is re- 

 markably swift and graceful. 



Other American species are the White-tailed Kite, 

 distinguished by its black shoulders, greyish back and 

 white tail, and the Mississippi Kite, by its slate- 

 coloured back, black tail, and buff \mder-parts 

 streaked with reddish and blackish colour. 



The Harriers are peculiar in that the feathers of the 

 face are arranged somewhat after the fashion that ob- 

 tains among the Owls. The female differs remark- 

 ably from the male in colour, being brown above and 



