KITES. 



37 



kites, attracted thither by the offal thrown into the streets, into which they 

 fearlessly descended to perform the scavenger's office, it being forbidden to 

 kill them. Shakespeare makes Hamlet say, " Ere this I should have fatted 

 all the region kites with this slave's offal," and the words had a significance in 

 those days which, fortunately, in modern timics is but imperfectly appreciated. 

 While on the wing, performing its aerial evolutions, the kite will sometimes 

 hover for a long time over the same spot with very little exertion of the wings, 

 even if there should be a fresh breeze. There are times, however, probably 



Fig. 19. — The Common Kite {Mtlvus rrja/.s). 



when it has lost sight of some prize on the ground, at which it will "give itself 

 to the wind," and drift to leeward in very beautiful style, apparently with com- 

 plete self-possession. This manceuvre, though held in great contempt by the 

 falcons, is by no means ungraceful or uninteresting : the bird rides lightly on 

 the gale, but retains its self-command, so that it can take a new direction when- 

 ever it pleases. 



The nest, built with sticks, and lined with feathers and moss, is placed in 

 some lofty tree. The eggs are from four to six in number. 



" The Indian Kite (Hh'/vus Govinda) is one of the most abundant and com- 

 mon birds in India, found at all elevations up to 8,000 feet, especially near large 

 towns and cantonments, and its vast numbers and fearlessness surprise the 

 stranger from England, where birds of prey are so rare. Every large town, can- 

 tonment, and even village, has its colony of kites, which ply their busy vocation 

 from before sunrise to some time after sunset. Every large camp, too, is fol- 

 lowed by these useful scavengers, and the tent even of a single traveller is daily 



