WHITE-TAILED EAGLE. 201 



difficulty. But little demonstration is made at the nest 

 if it only contains eggs, and the stories of Eagles attack- 

 ing men when disturbed I am disposed to regard as 

 rubbish. 



Range OF egg colouration and measurement: 

 The eggs of the White-tailed Eagle are normally two in 

 number, but in very rare instances three have been found, 

 and sometimes only one. They are white, and generally 

 without markings of any kind, although sometimes a few 

 rusty stains occur, but these most probably are accidental. 

 Average measurement, 29 inches in length, by 2-2 inches 

 in breadth. They are not quite so bulky as those of the 

 Golden Eagle, being narrower for their length. The 

 incubation period is apparently unknown, but probably 

 about the same as that of the preceding species, and 

 performed by both sexes, principally the female. 



Diagnostic characters : The eggs of the White- 

 tailed Eagle may be readily distinguished from those of 

 the Golden Eagle, the only species with which they are 

 likely to be confused in this country, by the absence of 

 colouring matter and their coarse texture. 



Family FALCONID^. Genus MiLVUS. 



Sub-family BUTEONINAl. 



COMMON KITE. 



MiLvus REGALis {Bn'sson). 



Single Brooded. Laying season, May. 



British breeding area: The Kite is another 

 melancholy relic of our ancient avifauna, once an 

 abundant species even in the streets of London, but 



