[Illustration: THE REED KITE OR MARSH HARRIER (_Circus rufus_).]
The REED KITE, or MARSH HARRIER (_Circus rufus_), closely resembles
the birds above described in its general construction, but its beak is
longer and more powerful, and its tarsi more robust; the facial disc,
moreover, is only slightly indicated. Its length is twenty-one inches,
of which ten belong to the tail; its breadth varies from forty to fifty
inches. The female is from one and a half to two inches longer, and
three broader than her mate. The plumage of the adult male is often much
variegated. The top of the head and brow are brown; the cheeks and throat
are covered with 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_).