OF VICTORIA 



189 



which differs only in liaving the axillaries black and a 

 black bar beneath the wing, as shown in the accompanying 

 plate. For this latter reason it is called the Letter-winged 

 Kite. It is a semi-insectivorous bird, partly owing to the 

 feebleness of its bill and legs. Birds of prey must be strong 

 in these regions. The distribution of this species is in the 



^w W. 



'¥ 



/#!-. 



Fig. 42. Letter-wioged Kite. One-sixth natural size. 



warmer parts of the colony, and only occasionally it passes 

 south of the Great Dividing Kange. The disposition of the 

 Kite is to perch on the dead limbs of high trees, or among 

 the higher branches, rather than spend much of its time 

 upon or near the ground. 



Nest. — Open, and composed of twigs, and internally lined 

 with fibres and small twigs. 



