FALCONIDJE. 163 



keeper on Sir Henry Vernon's estate at Steeple 

 Claydon, near Buckingham, in January, 1858. 



The date was an unusual one at which to find this 

 species here, but my informant is acquainted with the 

 bird, and is not likely to have been mistaken. 



Kite {Milvits vulgaris). The Forked-tailed Kite, 

 once a common bird in Great Britain, is now scarcely 

 ever seen in its old haunts, and every instance of its 

 occurrence here is now of great interest to the orni- 

 thologist. 



My friend Mr. R. B. Sharpe has written me word 

 that although no recent occurrence of the Kite in 

 these counties has come under his notice, the species 

 was nevertheless common within the memory of 

 persons still living at Pinkney's Green, an unenclosed 

 heathy tract about four miles distant from Cookham. 

 The Rev. Mr. Crewe informed me that a Kite was 

 killed several years ago at the reservoir near Drayton 

 Beauchamp, by Mr. S. W. Jenney. This specimen is 

 in the possession of Sir John Harpur Crewe, of Calne 

 Abbey, in Derbyshire. 



The Rev. Murray A. Mathew, of Weston-super- 

 Mare, wrote me word that about the year 1855 a fine 

 Kite was shot at Abingdon, which is now in his 

 collection. * Poor old Osman, the birdstuffer, of St. 

 Aldates, Oxford,' adds Mr. Mathew, * has often told me 

 that when he was young the Kite was quite a common 

 bird in Oxfordshire and Berkshire, and might be seen 

 any day by persons taking a country walk ; in deed 



M 2 



