THE KITE. 135 



well as in Sussex; for where is "the common 

 kite/' "the common buzzard/' or "the common 

 bittern/' of frequent occurrence now-a-days ? 



As to the kite (Milvus vulgaris), I have never 

 yet been able to obtain a glimpse of it in the 

 wild state in any part of this county, though I 

 have seen it many years ago in Oxfordshire, once 

 in Derbyshire, and occasionally in North Wales. 

 I never met with it in Ireland, and am not aware 

 that it has been seen there. 



They who have once had the good fortune to 

 behold this beautiful bird on the wing, have sel- 

 dom been able to refrain from expressing their 

 admiration of its surpassingly graceful flight, 

 coupled perhaps with sorrow, or some stronger 

 feeling, at the continued persecution which has 

 almost banished it from the woods of England, 

 and must ere long efi*ectually extirpate it as an 

 indigenous species. 



I am able to record only two instances of its 

 occurrence in this county, at least such as I con- 

 sider authentic. The late Mr. Dodd of Chichester, 

 an accurate observer, favoured me, some years 

 since, with a notice that a bird of this kind had 

 been killed at Siddlesham, on the borders of 

 Pagham harbour. 



In 184iS a kite was shot at and wounded by the 

 bailiff on the farm of Withdean, about four miles 



