32 FALCONID^. 



evolutions, and he moves it continuously ; he rises without 

 effort, comes down as if he were sliding along an inclined 

 plane ; he seems rather to swim than to fly ; he darts for 

 ward, slackens his speed, stops, and remains suspended or 

 fixed in the same place for whole hours without exhibiting 

 the smallest motion of his wings." The Kite generally 

 moves along at a moderate height, but sometimes, hke the 

 Eagle, rises to the more elevated regions of the air, where 

 it may always be distinguished by its long wings and 

 forked tail. 



In France, it is known by the name " Milan Eoyal," 

 the latter title being given to it not on account of any 

 fancied regal qualities, but because in ancient times it was 

 subservient to the pleasures of princes. In those times, 

 hawking at the Kite and Heron was the only kind of sport 

 dignified with the title of " Chase Eoyal," and no one— 

 not even a nobleman — could attack the Kite and Heron 

 without infringing the privileges of the king. 



Though larger than the noble Falcons, it is far inferior 

 to them in daring and muscular strength; cowardly in 

 attacking the strong, pitiless to the weak. It rarely assails 

 a bird on the ^ing, but takes its prey on the ground, 

 where nothing inferior to itself in courage seems to come 

 amiss to it. Moles, rats, mice, reptiles, and partridges, are 

 its common food ; it carries off also goslings, ducklings, 

 and chickens, though it retires ignominiously before an 

 angry hen. ' When pressed by hunger, it does not refuse 

 the offal of animals, or dead fish ; but being an expert 

 fisherman, it does not confine itself to dead food of this 

 kind, but pounces on such fish as it discerns floating near 

 the surface of the water — carries them off in its talons, and 

 devours them on shore. 



The Kite is more abundant in the northern than the 

 southern countries of Europe, to which latter, however, 

 numerous individuals migrate in autumn. It is of very rare 

 occurrence in the southern counties of England, M^here no 



