THE FORIC-TAILED KITE. 107 



mice, and also on yoiing birds when these first venture from the nest. The cold swards 

 by the sides of the upland streams, and the upland fanns, where the pastures are thin 

 and bare, and anything stirring on the ground can be easily discovered fi'om tlie height 

 at which the kite flies, are the places at which it is most frequently to be met with. 



No sooner, therefoi-e, does it wheel about, with eyes intent on the young broods which 

 tenant the fann-yard, than it attracts the notice of the parent-bii-ds, who set up a uni- 

 versal scream of execration ; while, perhaps, the farmer is ai'ouscd to bring forth his gun, 

 and stop, if he can, the fvu-ther ravages of the intruder. But, though the gmi may be 

 discharged, the kite may wheel off in widening circles till out of danger. Should all be 

 safe, it mil, before long, take a downward sweep, scare the astonished broods, and bear 

 away triumphantly its prey. Nor will it fail, when thus successful, to repeat its visits, 

 until some trap holds fast the plunderer, or the farmer's gun brings him lifeless to the 

 earth. 



" Occasionally," says a naturahst, " I have seen this beautiful bird wheeling and soar- 

 ing at an immense height ; but Enghsh keepers and traps have nearly extirpated the kite 

 in the north, as no greater enemy or more destructive foe to young grouse can exist. 

 Their large and ravenous yovmg require a large quantity of food, and the old birds man- 

 age to keep their craving appetite well supplied. Not only young grouse and black 

 game, but great numbei's of young hares are carried to the nest. Though a bird of appa- 

 rently such powerful and noble flight, the kite appears not to be very destructive to old 

 gi'ouse, but to confine her attacks to the young broods. During the season of the year, 

 too, when she has no young ones to provide for, carrion of all kinds forms her principal 

 food. In consequence of her greedy disposition, the kite is veiy easily trapped. From 

 her habit of following the course of streams, and hunting along the shores of the loch in 

 search of dead fish, or drowned animals of any kind, one of the most successful ways of 

 trapping the kite is to peg down the entrails of some animal in the shallow part of the 

 water, and then to place the trap either on the shore unmediately adjoining ; or, what is 

 often done, to foi-m a small artificial promontory close to the bait, and to set the trap on 

 this. The garbage catches the sharp eye of the bird, as she soars at a great height 

 above it, and the clever trapper seldom fails in catching her in this manner." 



The male and female birds diSer little either in colour or size. The upper surface is 

 entirely of a reddish brown, each feather being edged with a Ughter tint. The feathers 

 of the head and neck are long and pointed, of a didl grayish white, with longitudinal 

 streaks of dusky brown. The imder surface is of rust-colour, inchning to yellowish, with 

 longitudmal dusky spots. The tail is twelve inches long, and much forked ; it is of a 

 bright reddish brown, with obscure dusky bands. The feathers of the thighs are long 

 and loose, and the toes are bright yellow. The length of the kite is two feet two or 

 three inches ; the expanse of the wings five feet and a half. 



Louis XVI., the king of France, had falcons called lanners brought from the counties 

 and sent annually from Malta ; they were larger than the peregrine, and much esteemed 

 for flying at the kite. The kite, in consequence, obtained the name of Milan Royal, 

 from the amusement it offered to royal parties. In England it was very differently 

 employed ; for, according to Sir John Sebright, " the forked-tailed kites were much 

 flown, some years ago, by the Earl of Oxford, in the neighbourhood of Alconbury Hill. 

 A great owl, to the leg of which the falconers usually tie a fox's l)rusli, not only to ini- 

 ]iedc its flight, but to make it. as they fancy, more attractive, is tlirown up to draw 

 down the kite." 



