KITE 



207 



Kite. 

 Milvus ictinus. 



Fig. 69. — Kite. ^ natural size. 



Upper parts reddish brown ; the feathers with pale edges, those 

 of the head and neck long, and tapering to a point, greyish white, 

 streaked lengthways with brown; under parts rust-colour with 

 longitUiiinal brown streaks ; tail reddish orange, barred indistinctly 

 with brown ; beak horn-colour ; cere, irides, and feet yeUow ; claws 

 black. Female : upper parts a deeper brown, the feathers pale at 

 the extremity ; head and neck white. Length, twenty-five inches. 



The kite, or glead, is another melancholy example of the effect 

 of the pitiless persecution of some of our finest birds by game-pre- 



