COMMON KITE. gg^ 



miated become the dark central markings of the fea- 

 thers, and tlie paler the red of their edges. The fea- 

 male gradually becomes more grey on the head, until 

 that part at length assumes a delicate greyish- white 

 tints, The plumage of her back also is more or less 

 tinged with the same colour, and the red of her breast 

 is not so deep as in the male. 



The gradual diminution of the central dark markings 

 of the feathers is common to all the falconine birds 

 with which I am acquainted. In the peregrine falcon 

 they at length almost or entirely disappear, and in tlie 

 kestrel and merlin the plumage tends to become lighter, 

 and of more uniform tints, the older the birds become. 



Remarks — According to authors, this species is ge- 

 nerally distributed over the continent of Europe, being 

 in France and Italy much more common than with us, 

 in Switzerland and Germany not very rare, in Denmark 

 very frequent, in Holland and Russia less numerous. 

 It has not been observed in America, where its place 

 may be said to be occupied by the Swallow-tailed Kite, 

 Elanus furcatus, a bird of a different genus, but allied 

 in its conformation and manners. 



I have preferred Brisson's name, Milvus regalis, to 

 Dv Fleming's, Milvus vulgaris, both because it was first 

 applied, and because it is expressive of a fact connected 

 with the history of the species. According to Buffon, 

 the kite was honoured with the epithet royal, not on 

 account of any thing princely in his character, but be- 

 cause he was considered royal game : — " parce qu'il 

 servoit aux plaisirs des princes qui lui faisoient donner 

 la chasse et livrer combat par le faucon on I'epervier." 



