RED KITE. 269 



longitudinal pointed streaks of blackish-brown, which gradually 

 become narrower, so as to be confined to the shafts on the 

 tibial and subcaudal feathers, which are of a lighter tint. The 

 base of all the feathers is white, and the scapulars, which are 

 very large, have four or five transverse dusky bars. 



Length to end of tail 27 inches ; extent of wings 63 ; wing 

 from flexure 19| ; tail 14; bill along the ridge lj%, along 

 the edge of lower mandible 1^'| ; tarsus 2^% ; hind toe ^S^ 

 its claw I'l-ij ; second toe \^, its claw l^^ ; third toe 1^^, 

 its claw Y2 ' fourth toe 1, its claw i%. 



An individual shot in Nairnshire, in April 1832, and simi- 

 lar to the above, was 271 inches in length, and 64 in alar ex- 

 tent. The entire length of the intestinal canal was 70 inches, 

 of which the oesophagus measured 7 ; the stomach 2 inches in 

 diameter. 



Yariatioxs. — Differences in size are not very remarkable in 

 individuals of this species ; nor are those of colour very decided, 

 consisting chiefly of a greater or less breadth of the dusky 

 streaks, and a varying depth of tint in the reddish parts. 



Changes of Plumage. — The moult is not completed until late 

 in autumn. When the plumage is new, the tints are much 

 brighter and deeper than in summer, toward the end of which 

 the dark parts are tinged with greyish-brown, the red are 

 faded, and the paler margins and tips abraded. 



Habits. — In the northern parts of Scotland, the Kite is of 

 very rare occurrence ; in the outer Hebrides I am not aware of 

 its having been observed ; and in the counties to the south of 

 the Friths of Tay and Clyde, it is of extremely rare occurrence ; 

 but from Stirling and Perth westward, it is often seen, and in 

 some parts of the counties of Dumbarton, Argyle, and Perth, 

 cannot be considered as scarce. In Cumberland and West- 

 moreland it appears to bo more frequent than in the eastern 

 parts of the north of England ; while in the southern it is very 

 seldom met with. ISIontagu remarks that in twelve years' 

 residence he never observed but one individual in the southern 



