KITES 11 



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permanent trace on my memory. The exception- 

 ally vivid impression produced by the sight of the 

 kites and mynas would, therefore, seem to have 

 been due to a certain mental alertness, dependent 

 on fresh arrival, and which had already had time 

 to subside during the comparatively brief period 

 that elapsed before the coming of the storks. 



The common kites, Milvus govinda, can hardly 

 fail to attract the notice of any one on first arriving 

 in India from the British islands. The mere 

 presence of large numbers of raptorial birds within 

 thickly populated areas is in itself a new experi- 

 ence ; and, when the birds are of diurnal habits 

 and of such large size and fearless nature as Indian 

 kites are, even the most careless observer must 

 inevitably be impressed by it. Their extreme 

 abundance and quiet colouring lead to their being 

 held in little regard, and certain of their habits tend 

 to give them a positively evil repute ; but, in truth, 

 they are very beautiful birds. Their bright, bold, 

 brown eyes and cruel talons are splendid objects ; 

 the soft shading of their plumage is admirable, 

 especially when seen at a short distance, as the 

 great birds glide gently to and fro, passing and 

 repassing through alternate zones of sunshine and 

 shadow; and nothing can prevent their flight, with 

 its easy evolutions, smoothly sweeping spires and 

 headlong plunges, from being an endless source of 

 delight to the onlooker. They are so confident that 



