THE RED KITE 205 



reminiscent of that of some of the larger gulls, 

 while, similarly, a Heron flying towards one may 

 cause momentary confusion. 



The plumage, though plain, is pleasing. 

 Above, brown prevails, shading into rufous with 

 paler edgings, while the primaries are black. In 

 different individuals the long tail ranges from 

 orange-brown to brick-red, with a few indistinct 

 bars on the outer webs of the feathers, and the 

 head and throat are greyish-white (in very old 

 hens almost white), more or less streaked with 

 dark brown. The neck-feathers are reminiscent of 

 hackles. Below, tawny red finds a place, the 

 feathers being centred and streaked with brown. 

 The legs, feet, irides, and cere are all yellow ; the 

 beak horn-colour ; the claws black. Rightly has 

 it been called the " red " Kite, but the praenomen 

 " common " should once and for all be dropped, 

 in Britain, at any rate. Of the two sexes, the 

 female is slightly the larger. Birds of the year are 

 lighter in colour, and have not such sharply-cleft 

 tails. Nestlings in the down are whitish on the 

 head and under-parts, huffish above. 



Faithful to one mate for life and Kites 

 probably see forty or fifty years the Kite 

 patronizes its nest-haunt off and on at all seasons, 

 and always roosts there. A decided sociability, 

 except that no pair will brook another in the same 

 breeding-wood, is evinced at all times (I have seen 

 six together) ; and in days gone by two coverts 



