56 MILVINZ. 
try to get it from him, and it, in general, changes hands, or 
rather feet, several times before it is finally disposed of. Garbage 
washed through the scupper holes, if at all eatable, is eagerly 
pounced upon; in fact, they are excellent scavengers, inland as 
well asin the harbour. The kite is fearless and venturesome 
in the pursuit of food; it has been known to swoop down on, 
and snatch food from the hand of a child, or even a grown up 
person; meat or other food in a plate, carried m hand, is not 
safe from their attacks, and it would be the height of folly to carry 
anything eatable on the head (the usual custom with natives 
in this country), unless it was well covered over. They are easily 
caught, by placing a light blanket on the ground and throwing 
a piece of meat upon it. The kite swoops down on the meat, 
its claws become entangled in the blanket, and the bird can be 
secured before it can release itself. Soldiers often amuse them- 
selves in this way, and after cutting the webs of the quills and 
tail-feathers into fantastic shapes, let them go. 
Kites, although far more numerous near the haunts of man, 
are by no means uncommon elsewhere. A camp is sure to be 
infested by some scores of them ; they seem to know instinctively 
when a meal is under preparation, and show increased activity 
at these times. They have a peculiar habit of assembling 
together in some favorite spot at the close of the day before 
retiring to roost. 
All writers on the subject seem to agree that they breed 
during the first three months in the year, and a_ nest 
taken on Christmas day has been spoken of as exceptionally 
early. I have taken nests from October to April, not in one year, 
or in one district only, but habitually, as the following extracts 
from my nesting memoranda will show :— 
From. To. 
Aboo see w. | Tth October, 1876| 8th April, 1877. 
Deesa eee ». | 20th October, 1876] 7th April, 1877. 
Ss ae «. | 25th October, 1877) 25th March, 1878. 
Hyderabad, Sind «- | 5th November, 1878} 10th March, 1879. 
” ” ... | 8th November, 1880} 5th April, 1881. 
Mhow Bae 15th October, 188] 
Poona ss .. | 25th October, 1881] 20th March, 1882. 
Neemuch tee «. | 4th December, 1883] 9th April, 1884. 
a was « | 5th October, 1884] 31st March, 1885, 
Mast of these nests were observed inside cantonment limits ; 
indeed, in the breeding season, there is scarcely a compound, 
containing a suitable tree, that is not tenanted by a pair of these 
birds; in fact, they have a decided penchant for breeding in the 
vicinity of man. This, considering the persecution they receive 
at times, on account of the havoc they make in a brood of chickens, 
