122 LOST AND VANISHING BIRDS 



Its eastern limits appear to be the valley of 

 the Don. 



This fine bird may be easily recognised even 

 upon the wing by its deeply forked tail. One of 

 the most remarkable characteristics of the Kite is 

 its singularly graceful and long-sustained flight. 

 When the bird was far more common than it is 

 now, the English naturalist could stand and watch 

 its amazing powers of wing by the hour together. 

 Upon one occasion only in the British Islands have 

 we had the good fortune to witness the once familiar 

 sight of a soaring Kite. We watched the bird rise 

 from a grove of trees and mount upwards and up- 

 wards in spacious circles with wings and tail out- 

 spread, the highest air being gained with scarcely 

 an apparent effort, whilst all the time the beautiful 

 creature was bearing away from us until we literally 

 lost it in the clouds. Falcons were formerly flown 

 at the Kite, and it was no uncommon thing for 

 the latter to keep the air of its pursuer until both 

 were lost to view. In many of its habits the Kite 

 closely resembles the Buzzard ; it is ordinarily a 

 sluggish bird, without any of the splendid dash 

 which characterises the movements of the Hawks 

 and Falcons. From this we may infer that the 

 food of the Kite consists principally of young and 



