122 SPARROW HAWK. 



motion is so smooth, that the action of the wings is 

 scarcely perceptible. The country people have a notion, 

 that this sailing 1 in the air of the Kite is portentous of 

 bad and stormy weather ; and that, when these birds 

 soar high, fine weather will follow. Their being noisy 

 and clamorous, is said also to foretel rain. London 

 must have greatly, indeed, improved in cleanliness since 

 the time of Clusius, who states, that he had seen, even 

 in the city, an immense number of Kites, which flocked 

 there, for the offals and dead animals which were thrown 

 into the streets. Unalarmed by the presence of mankind, 

 they seized upon their prey, even in the midst of the 

 greatest crowds. Kites form their nests in woods, and 

 lay two or three roundish eggs, which are of a whitish 

 colour, with dingy yellow spots. They are found in 

 England through the whole year ; but they annually 

 migrate from other parts of Europe, into Africa and 

 Asia. 



The Kite is distinguished from every other British bird 

 of prey, by its forked tail. Its length is about twenty- 

 seven inches. The beak is much hooked, and the cere 

 yellow. The colour of the plumage is rusty ; and the 

 head whitish, marked with black. 



Sparroiv Hawk. Few birds of its size are more 

 courageous, or more destructive than the Sparrow 

 Hawk. It unsparingly attacks all kinds of game, and 

 oftentimes seizes upon both pigeons and poultry. It is 

 capable of being trained like a falcon, to the chase of 

 partridges or pigeons. The nest of these birds is gene- 

 rally built in hollow trees, upon high rocks, or ruinous 

 buildings. The number of eggs is four or five, marked 

 at the larger end with reddish spots. The Sparrow 



