BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 203 



throat, and under tail-coverts, and streaked with 

 dusky-brown, except on the last-named part. Legs 

 and toes yellow ; claws black. 



The female is somewhat larger, and is said to be 

 greyer about the head and redder beneath the body. 

 However, some ornithologists say that she is less 

 red than the male. 



Situation and Locality.* In the forked branch 

 of a tree, or on several branches close to the trunk, 

 at varying heights, in certain parts of Wales, which 

 must remain nameless on account of the shameful 

 persecution to which this struggling species is sub- 

 jected by men who unfortunately attach more 

 importance to a few faded eggshells in a cabinet 

 than they do to seeing this noble bird gliding 

 along its native mountain sides on outstretched 

 wings. 



Materials. Sticks and twigs are used liberally 

 for the outsides, and the foundation is lined with 

 moss, wool, grass, and any rubbish the bird can 

 pick up, such as bits of paper and rags. 



Eggs. Two to four, generally three. Greyish 

 dirty white, spotted, blotched, and streaked with dull 

 red and brownish-yellow, with underlying markings 

 of greyish-lilac. The markings are generally most 

 numerous at the larger end. Subject to consider- 

 able variation. Size about 2.25 by 1.75 in. (See 

 Plate VII.) 



Time. May. 



Remarks. Resident. Note: a shrill shriek, 

 known in some localities as a " whew." Local 

 and other names : Glead, Fork-tailed Kite, 

 Fork-tailed Glead, Gled or Greedy Gled, Put- 

 tock, Crotchet-tailed Puttock, Glade. Sits pretty 

 closely, and it is said will defend its nest when 



