THE RED KITE. 143 



large, measuring 1J inches wide. The bill is round, and forms 

 an acute hook from the cere to the tip. The wings are very 

 long, so is the tail, which is much forked like the swallow's ; legs 

 and toes short but strong. The claws are long and strong, and 

 moderately curved ; in fact, the bill and claws of the kite, as 

 weapons of offence, bring it nearer to the larger falcon than the 

 harrier, and would induce us to give it a more daring character 

 than it deserves. But if its daring does not come up to our idea 

 from its looks, its easy and graceful flight surpasses it ; for the 

 chief characteristic of the genus is easy gracefulness of flight, 

 performed by little exertion in easy circles, guided by their 

 elongated forked tail. In general form and habits they resemble 

 the buzzards and harriers ; but their greater development of wing 

 and peculiar forked tail are distinctive marks of separation, 

 while their bill and claws and other characteristics bring them 

 nearer to the more aquiline groups of the family. The plumage 

 is also soft and blended. 



Red Kite or Glead (Falco Milvus). Linn. 



" The deadly -handed Clifford slew my steed ; 

 But, match to match, I have encountered him, 

 And made a prey for carrion kites and crows, 

 Even of the bonnie beast he loved eo well." — King Henry VI. 



This beautiful bird is distinguished from the rest of the 

 falconidse by its forked tail. It is the only indigenous member 

 of this sub-family of the raptores in Britain. It is pretty 

 generally distributed in South Britain, as well as in the 

 Highlands of Scotland. Selby says " it is plentiful in Aber- 

 deenshire, and in the vicinity of Loch Katrine •" he had 

 the pleasure of watching its graceful flight from the beautiful 

 banks of Loch Awe, and had frequently seen them when passing 

 the woods near Alconbury Hill — a well-known breeding-place — at 

 least they were there up to 1844 ; but I believe the last of them 

 have been destroyed since. Macgillivray also says that " from 

 Stirling and Perth westward it is often seen, and in some parts 

 of Dumbarton, Argyle, and Perth cannot be considered scarce," 

 which facts may have induced Burns to write before them — 



" I fought at land, I fought at sea ; 

 At hame I fought my auntie, O ; 

 But I met the devil and Dundee 

 On the braes o' Killiecrankie, O. 



