NEST OF THE KITE. 



59 



finny inhabitants of the rivers or ponds as the osprey itself ; sweeping suddenly down 

 upon the fish as they rise to the surface in search of food, or in their accustomed 

 gaiubollings, and bearing tliem away to the shore, where it settles down and eats 

 them in peace. 



The nest of the Kite is chiefly built with sticks as a foundation, upon which is placed 

 a layer of moss, wool, hair, and other soft and warm articles. The locality which is 

 chosen for the nest is generaUy in some thick wood, and the liird prefers a strong, forked 

 branch for the resting-place. The 

 eggs are generally two in number, 

 and sometimes three, of a greyish 

 or light brownish-white colour, 

 speckled with reddish chestnut 

 blotches, which, as is the case 

 with so many hawk's eggs, are 

 gathered towards the larger end. 



The Kite still breeds iu several 

 parts of Great Britain, a recent 

 instance being mentioned by the 

 Hon. G. Berkeley in a commu- 

 nication to the Field newspaper, 

 which, as it illustrates something 

 of the disposition of the bird, 

 shall be given in his own words. 

 " I discovered the fact of a Kite's 

 nest in one of the woods in my 

 IDOssession, while at Harrold Hall 

 iu Bedfordshire, near which I 

 could not secrete myself suffi- 

 ciently to witness the return to it 

 of the old bird, because she soared 

 above the wood, and did not con- 

 sider the cover safe until I had 

 taken my departure. One day I 

 took my keeper with me to the 

 nest, when the Kite, as usual, took 

 to the skies. I then concealed 

 myself, and sent my keeper away. 

 The Kite soared over him, or 

 ' watched ' him safe away, and 

 being unable to count even two, 

 she boldly, and without further 

 precaution, came back to her eggs, 

 and I killed her." 



A curious incident connected 

 with the Kite is mentioned in 

 the " Journal of a Naturalist." 

 On a winter's evening a heavy fog 

 came on, succeeded by a severe 



frost, and actually fi-oze the feet of a number of birds to the boughs on which they were 

 roosting. Among them were several Kites, which were thus fastened into the icy stocks, 

 and no less than fifteen of these birds were captured by certain adventurous youths, who 

 climbed the trees in spite of the frosty coating, and made easy prey of the poor f)risoners. 

 It is a strange circumstance that so many Kites should have been found together, as the 

 Kite is not a gregarious bird, and associates only in pairs. The same author draws a very 

 neat distinction between the flight of the buzzard and that of the Kite. " Though we see 

 it sometimes in company with the buzzard, it is never to be mistaken for that clumsy 



KITE.— ilfiiOTts regdlis. 



