The SHORT-TAILED KITE, sometimes called the MOUNTEBANK (_Helotarsus
ecaudatus_), is a very remarkable bird, inhabiting the continent of
Africa, from sixteen degrees north latitude as far as the Cape of Good
Hope. In appearance it reminds us of an Eagle, and is recognisable by its
short, powerful, compact body, short neck and large head. The wings (in
which the second quill is longer than the rest) are of great length, the
tail is unusually short, as are the tarsi; the latter are, however, very
strong, and well protected by scaly plates. The toes are of medium size,
and armed with slightly curved and blunt talons. The plumage is unusually
rich in texture, and consists of large broad feathers, with which the
head in particular is profusely covered. The coloration of the plumage
in adult males is as striking as its general appearance; the head, neck,
fore, under, and hinder parts of the body are of a beautiful pale black;
the entire tail and upper portion of the back are red. The exterior
wing-covers vary from pale brownish red to cream colour; the primary
quills are black, the secondaries and shoulder feathers grey, tipped with
black, so that these latter form a black border to the wing, the lower
side of which is of silvery whiteness. The eye is a beautiful brown, and
glitters with a golden light; the back is reddish yellow at the base,
and greyish blue towards the tip. The cere, and a bare place round the
eyes, are blood red, spotted with reddish yellow. In the young birds the
plumage is dark brown, usually deeper in shade on the back than it is
beneath, where the feathers have a light greyish brown edge; the feathers
upon the throat are light brown, and the secondary quills greyish brown.
The eye is reddish brown, the beak, cere, cheek-stripes, and feet blue,
the latter shaded with red. The length of the adult female is one foot
ten inches, its breadth five feet ten inches; the wing measures one foot
nine inches, and the tail not more than five inches. The male is not
quite so large.
[Illustration: THE SHORT-TAILED KITE (_Helotarsus ecaudatus_).]
This remarkable bird, whose extraordinary appearance has caused it
to be the subject of many strange superstitions among the natives of
Africa, is found throughout the whole of that continent, excepting its
most northern portions: it lives principally in mountainous districts,
but nevertheless constantly makes its appearance in all parts of the
widely-extended plains; yet, notwithstanding the frequency with which
this bird is seen by travellers, it is by no means easy to obtain
possession of a specimen, as it usually soars so high when in flight as
to be out of gunshot, and will often pass the entire day in thus sailing
over extensive tracts of country; at noon, however, it may generally be
found slaking its thirst at a pool of water, or taking a short nap upon
a tree near some stream. The afternoon and early evening are spent in
the pursuit of food, and it is only when darkness has fully closed in
that the "Mountebank" seeks shelter for the night. Le Vaillant mentions
having seen this species flying about in pairs, but we ourselves have
always found it solitary; during the breeding season alone it is to be
found associated with others of its kind in small parties. Speke tells us
that the Short-tailed Kite is regarded by some of the African tribes with
superstitious dread, its shadow being supposed to bring ill-luck, while
others, on the contrary, venerate it on account of its imaginary powers
of healing by means of rare medicinal roots which they imagine that it
flies to a great distance to obtain. The latter notion has no doubt
arisen from the fact that the snakes so frequently devoured by this bird
have been mistaken for pieces of roots, when borne by their destroyer to
its resting-place. From the strange antics and remarkable appearance of
this Kite, it is called by the Abyssinians "The Monkey of the Sky;" and
those who have seen it alternately tumbling, gliding, rising, or falling
through the air will own that the name is not ill applied. Only when on
the wing can the beauty of the Mountebank be fully appreciated; while
in the trees its appearance is most ungainly--the body is inflated till
it looks like a ball of feathers, and the plumage hangs loose about the
neck and face, the head being meanwhile turned about in all directions,
after the manner of the Screech Owl. The sight of this bird, like that of
other Kites, is very keen, and its powers of hearing excellent. In its
wild state it is extremely shy, even towards its congeners; and though
it will often engage in serious conflicts, is by no means courageous. In
captivity it soon becomes exceedingly tame, and, unlike other birds of
prey, quite enjoys being stroked. But little care, either as regards food
or climate, is required to keep the Mountebank in health when caged, as
it can endure almost any variety of temperature. Gazelles, lambs, sick
sheep, young ostriches, and carrion are said to constitute its favourite
food, but we cannot vouch for the truth of this statement, as our own
observations have led us to the conclusion that this species subsists
chiefly upon reptiles, and is equally destructive to snakes of all kinds,
whether poisonous or not. When in pursuit of food of this description,
it is immediately attracted by the conflagrations that frequently break
out upon the vast plains of their native land, and will fly quite close
down to the line of fire, snatching its victims as they vainly attempt to
escape from the dense cloud of smoke in which they are enveloped; they
will, no doubt, if driven by hunger, occasionally eat carrion. The period
of incubation commences with the dry season, when, owing to the parched
state of the ground, snakes are easily discovered among the burnt-up
grass. The eyrie is usually built at the summit of a high tree, and the
brood consists, according to Le Vaillant, of from three to four eggs, but
we ourselves have never succeeded in finding more than two.
* * * * *
The GLIDING KITES (_Elanus_) are common in all parts of the world, with
the exception of Europe, where they are very rarely met with. This
group is composed of four species, resembling each other in an unusual
degree. All have compact bodies and thick plumage; their wings, of which
the second quill is longer than the rest, extend beyond the tip of the
short, slightly excised, and by no means powerful tail. The feet are
short, powerful, and only partially covered with feathers, the middle toe
is longer than the tarsus, and all the toes are armed with very sharp,
hooked talons; the beak, which is short and comparatively high, is much
bent, and terminates in a long hook; the margin of the upper mandible
bulges slightly outwards. The plumage is extremely silky in its texture,
and resembles that of the Owl in the formation of its feathers.