THE RED KITE 207 



A wood with a northerly aspect, which has 

 been well cut back, or sparsely planted in the first 

 instance, is almost always selected ; and, cus- 

 tomarily, it is one in full view of a farm or cottage, 

 or even of the whole village. Not so long since 

 (one notably in 1906), nests could be seen in wood- 

 lands backing country seats, and concerning one 

 such instance it was noticeable that the birds did 

 not harry the poultry on that estate, but confined 

 their attention to that on a demesne marching with 

 it. The thinly-planted wood is assuredly chosen 

 because the Kite dislikes catching its ample wings 

 in projecting twigs and branches. This the Buzzard 

 does not seem to dread, though when breeding in 

 a thick covert, that bird almost invariably chooses 

 a tree close to the edge. 



In Scotland, it seems, the Bate was partial to 

 some fir in which to build, but in Wales oaks have 

 nearly always been in vogue, though occasionally 

 a larch does duty. For a position the nest usually 

 claims a fork where two or three stout branches 

 diverge from the main stem ; but sometimes it lies 

 in the crotch of a protruding limb a site much 

 favoured by the Buzzard. When in a larch, how- 

 ever, it is normally near the summit, or, if in a giant 

 tree, in some prong, should it exist. Barely it is 

 but ten or a dozen feet up, generally from twenty to 

 forty. It is chiefly remarkable for the assortment 

 of rubbish deposited in it. The main sticks (dead 

 ones of the oak being favourites), though of good 



