THE KITE 125 



weakly birds and small animals, insects, carrion 

 and offal, and occasionally fish. The mewing note 

 of the Kite in this country is rarely heard except 

 during the breeding season. 



We may here state that the Kite is doubtless a 

 resident in our islands, such few as breed here. 

 Its favourite resorts for nesting purposes are 

 wooc's. The nest in Britain seems always to be 

 made in a tree, but in North Africa a ledge of rock 

 is often selected. A pine or fir tree is preferred. 

 It is placed sometimes amongst the more slender 

 branches at the top of the tree, but more frequently 

 in a crotch lower down and close to the trunk. 

 Externally this nest is made of sticks, often 

 festooned with rags, waste paper, and such-like 

 rubbish ; internally it is lined with moss, wool, 

 bones, fur, hair, rags, and even twine. The eggs 

 are usually three, but sometimes two or even four, 

 in number, pale bluish green or almost white in 

 ground colour, blotched, spotted, and streaked with 

 dark reddish brown, paler brown, and grey. The 

 Kite is single-brooded, and the eggs are laid in 

 May. 



The Kite has the general colour of the upper 

 parts reddish brown, the feathers with paler edges ; 

 those on the crown and neck somewhat elongated. 



