208 BBITISH BIRDS 



servers, and, as the species became rare, by collectors of ' British- 

 killed ' specimens and ' British-taken ' eggs. Once a common species 

 in the British Islands, it is now reduced to a miserable remnant, 

 composed of a few breeding pairs in Wales and Scotland. 



Among the various types of diurnal birds of prey, the kite is one 

 of the finest ; the great extent of his sharp-pointed wings and his 

 long, forked tail, fit him for an aerial life. In appearance he is a 

 swallow-shaped eagle ; and few birds equal him in grace and 

 majesty of motion when he soars at a vast height. Like the eagles, 

 buzzards, and other strong-fliers among the raptors, he soars for 

 exercise and recreation ; but, vulture-like, when soaring he is ever 

 on the watch for a meal. And, like the vulture, he will feed on 

 garbage ; for though of so noble an appearance, and possessed of 

 such great power, he has, compared with the falcons, a poor spirit, 

 and his name is a term of reproach that signifies cowardice and 

 rapacity. A carrion-eater, he also preys on small mammals, reptiles, 

 and birds, in most cases the young, the sickly, or wounded. 



The nest of the kite is placed in a tree, and is a bulky structure 

 of sticks, mixed with much rubbish — bones, turf, scraps of paper, 

 and old rags — and is lined with wool and moss. Two to four eggs 

 are laid, three being the usual number. In size, colour, and mark- 

 ings they closely resemble those of the buzzard. 



Peregrine Falcon. 



Falco peregrinus. 



Upper parts dark bluish grey, with darker bands ; head bluish 

 black, as are also the moustaches descending from the gape ; under 

 parts white ; breast transversely barred with brown ; beak blue, 

 darker at the point ; cere yellow ; iris dark brown ; feet yellow ; 

 claws black. Female: upper plumage tinged with brown, the 

 under parts with reddish yeUow. Length, fifteen inches ; female, 

 eeyenteen inches. 



This famed bird is of a handsome appearance, not swallow-like 

 as is the kite, nor so massive as the eagle ; but nature in fashioning 

 it has observed the golden mean, and the result is a being so well- 

 balanced in all its parts and so admirably adapted for speed, strength, 

 and endurance, that to many minds it has seemed the most perfect 

 among winged creatures. WTien standing perched on a crag, erect 



