COMMON KITE. 277 



breast, was perfectly bare, the bird having been incu- 

 bating when it was shot. 



Length to end of tail 271 inches, to end of wings 25| ; 

 extent of wings 64; wing from flexure 19; tail 15; 

 bill along the ridge If, along the edge of lower man- 

 dible IJ; tarsus 2^; middle toe and claw 2|. 



Variations. — Individuals vary a little in size, bnt 

 less than in many other species of the family. The va- 

 riations in the colouring of the males are not remark- 

 able ; those of the females consist chiefly of a lighter or 

 deeper tint, and the shading of grey which the upper 

 parts .acquire in old individuals. As the period at 

 which the feathers are to be renewed appro.iches, rhey 

 become pointed and ragged in consequence of abra- 

 sion. The light-coloured tips and edges being worn, 

 the general colour becomes of a more uniform red, but 

 as it bIso fades, the difference produced is not remark- 

 able. 



Habits — The kite is permanently resident in Britain, 

 although in certain districts it seems to shift its quar- 

 ters at difl'erent seasons. In some parts of England 

 and Scotland it is of not unfrequent occurrence, while 

 in other extensive districts it is extremely rare, or ne- 

 ver seen at all. I have observed it in the counties of 

 Aberdeen, Stirling, and Argyll ; but in the Hebrides, 

 and in the southern division of Scotland, I have never' 

 met with it. As a proof of its rarity in the latter dis- 

 trict, I know of only one specimen that came through 

 the hands of the bird-stuff^eri in Edinburgh, in the 

 course of eight years. Montagu remarks, that in twelve 



