The RED or ROYAL KITE (_Milvus regalis_) differs from those of its
congeners already described in the comparative strength and height of its
beak, which is, moreover, but slightly hooked at its extremity. The first
quill of the wing is as long as the seventh; the tail is long, broad, and
much forked. The length of the Royal Kite is about two feet, its breadth
four and three-quarters: the wing measures one foot and a half, and the
tail fourteen inches. The female is about three inches longer and broader
than her mate. The plumage of this species consists of broad feathers
of a rust-red colour, spotted and marked upon the shafts with blackish
brown. The head and neck are white, streaked longitudinally with brown;
the points of the wings are black, the tail is rust colour, striped with
dark brown. In the young birds the head is yellowish white, spotted with
brownish red, and all the feathers on the under parts of the body have a
light edge.
The Royal Kite inhabits all the level tracts of the European continent,
from the south of Sweden to Spain, and from thence to Siberia, but only
appears in mountainous districts during the course of its migrations.
They usually make their appearance in Europe about March, and leave
for warmer climates in October; when the winter, however, has proved
exceptionally mild, some stragglers have been known to remain with
us throughout the entire year. The Royal Kites live in pairs, except
when about to migrate, at which time they congregate in large parties
containing from fifty to a hundred, which fly about in search of food
during the day, and pass the night upon trees. These wandering bands
extend their flight as far as North-western Africa, but we have rarely
seen them in Egypt.
[Illustration: THE RED OR ROYAL KITE
(_Milvus regalis_).]
In times not very remote these Kites seem to have played in England the
part of scavengers, much in the same way as the Parasite Kite and Govinda
now do in India, for Pennant informs us that in the days of Henry VIII.
they flew fearlessly about the streets of London, and cleansed them
of the mass of filth, which must otherwise have tainted the air with
poisonous vapours. To kill one of these feathered scavengers was, in that
reign, a punishable offence. The Royal Kites are indolent and cowardly;
they frequently hover for a quarter of an hour in the air without any
perceptible movement of the wings, merely steering their course by means
of their broad tail, by the aid of which they can likewise soar to an
enormous height. When upon the ground their gait is extremely awkward,
consisting rather of shuffling hops than of regular steps. In disposition
they resemble the species we have already described. Their voice is
monotonous and somewhat bleating in its tone, but this sound is varied
during the breeding season by a tremulous note, sometimes employed at
other seasons to express pleasure or contentment. They live upon small
quadrupeds, unfledged birds, snakes, toads, frogs, grasshoppers, beetles,
and worms; and though they occasionally annoy the farmer by stealing a
chicken, or the sportsman by pouncing upon a young hare, these trifling
offences are not worth speaking of when we consider the valuable services
rendered by them, for without their most timely aid entire crops would be
destroyed. Dozens of mice are often devoured by one Kite in the course of
a single day, and incalculable hosts of noxious insects are also consumed
by these active but much-reviled friends of the farmer and gardener. When
about to breed they prefer taking possession, if possible, of a Falcon's
eyrie or Crow's old nest, but should this be impossible, they build
much in the same manner as the Kites above described. The eggs, usually
two, sometimes three in number, are laid about April, and are white,
spotted with red. The female alone broods, and her mate busies himself
in procuring food. The young are reared like others of their congeners.
The Royal Kite is easily tamed, and, according to our own experience, may
be considered as the most interesting and pleasing of all caged Birds of
Prey.