280 MILVUS REGALIS. 



it also seizes on chickens and ducklings that have stray- 

 ed to some distance. Willughby represents its auda- 

 city as such, that, on account of its frequent depreda- 

 tions on poultry, it is held in more hatred by house- 

 wives than any other bird ; and this no doubt was true 

 enough in his days, but kites are so uncommon now 

 that they can hardly be a terror to the breeders of do- 

 mestic birds. Although said to be a coward in some 

 respects, it sometimes shews more boldness than pru- 

 dence. Thus Montagu relates, that one was so intent 

 in obtaining some chickens from a coop, that it was 

 knocked down with a broom by a servant girl ; and 

 that, while a poor woman was washing in a stream 

 some entrails, part of which extended a few yards in 

 the water, a kite that had long been hovering over, 

 pounced upon and carried off a part, in spite of the 

 woman's efforts to deter him. A correspondent of 

 Buifon's mentions this propensity as one of the charac- 

 teristics of the species. Several authors state that it 

 eats dead fish, and a writer in Loudon's useful and en- 

 tertaining Magazine of Natural History says that he 

 has frequently seen a kite come from the forest at Blois 

 to tish in the Loire, which it seemed to do with much 

 success, seldom appearing to miss its prey. Montagu 

 alleges that it destroys young lambs, and many authors 

 attribute to it a relish for dead animals of various kinds. 

 The kite, therefore, is a foul and promiscuous feeder, 

 like man, and although so elegant a bird might be ex- 

 pected to be more delicate in this matter, we must take 

 him as he is. 



The author of the Journal of a Naturalist states, 

 tliat in his district, which is between Gloucester and 



