272 



MILVUS REGALIS. 



THE COMMON KITE. 



Of the adult male, the upper parts brownish-red, 

 with narrow longitudinal blackish-brown markings, the 

 outer primaries black, the lower parts of a lighter red, 

 with narrower central lines on the feathers. Of the 

 female, the head and upper neck greyish-white, with 

 longitudinal dark lines, the other parts nearly as in the 

 male. The young of a deeper red, with the central 

 n»arkings of the feathers broader. The species is dis- 

 tinguished from all the British birds of the falconine 

 family by having the tail forked. 



Male. — The kite, notwithstanding the little estima- 

 tion in which it is held when compared with the falcons, 

 is a very beautiful bird, remarkable especially for the 

 great length of its wings and tail, in which respect it 

 excels all the British species of the family, and for the 

 ease, buoyancy, and elegance of its flight, in which it 

 resembles the birds of the genera Lestris and Larus. 

 Its body is short, compact, ovate, compressed behind ; 

 the neck very short ; the head of moderate size, ovate, 

 rather flattened above, and narrowed before. The bill 

 is in all respects as described in the generic character, 

 its festoon distinct. 



The mouth and parts connected with it, as well as 

 the organs of sense, and the feet, differ in no respect 



