HERONS RAVENS AND KITES. if 



mice and snakes are the chief food of their young. 

 It is now but very seldom that we are indulged 

 with a sight of the beautiful gyrations of this 

 bird, or of seeing it supporting itself in the air 

 with a motion almost imperceptible. Its sweeping 

 circles are peculiarly elegant, and often have I 

 watched them with the greatest pleasure. How 

 much is it to be regretted that this noble bird 

 should have been doomed to destruction by those, 

 who have taken but little trouble to enquire into 

 its asserted predatory habits. 



When the kite was more numerous than it is at 

 present, its appearance was hailed as the har- 

 binger of fine weather. Bacon tells us that when 

 it was seen flying aloft it portended fair and fine 

 weather. 



