19 



KITE. 



GLEAD. PUTTOCK. PORK-TAILED KITE. 



PLATE X. 



Milvus regalis, BEISSON. 



" ictinus, LINNJEUS. 



" vulgaris, FLEMING. 

 Falco milvus, 



THE nest of the Kite is built 'yearly in the spring/ for the 

 most part in the covert of a thick wood, and is placed between the 

 branches of some tall tree, but rather in the middle than towards 

 the top. Occasionally also it is located on some rocky precipice. It 

 is composed of sticks, and is lined with any soft material, such as 

 straw, hair, grass, wool, or feathers. In shape, if the word may be 

 applied to that which is almost shapeless, though rather more closely 

 compacted than that of some other birds of the Hawk family, it is 

 rather flat. 



The eggs, which are two or three in number, rarely four, rather 

 large, and somewhat more than ordinarily round, very much resemble, 

 in some instances, those of the Common Buzzard: and possibly this 

 fact may afford some confirmatory justification of the juxtaposition of 

 these birds. The ground colour is a dingy white, bluish, or greenish 

 white, or dull brownish yellow. 



One variety is minutely dotted over with yellow or brown. 



A second is waved with linear brown marks. 



A third is blotted here and there with brown, or reddish brown, 

 especially at the lower end. 



A fourth has a few yellowish grey spots and blots all over, especially 

 at the smaller end, and least in the middle. 



A fifth is still more deeply marked with the same colour, and in a 



