136 



KITES. 



perseverance. Not long ago, some fishermen belonging to 

 Newhaven, when about five miles from the Bass Rock, off the 

 coast of Scotland, observed a Hawk in close pursuit of a small 

 bird. Apparently exhausted by its numberless sudden turns, 

 spiry circles, and various efforts to escape, it was just on the 

 point of falling into the claws of its pursuer, when the fisher-, 

 men gave a loud shout by way of frightening the Hawk, on 

 which the little bird flew down for protection, and perched, 

 quite exhausted, in the midst of them. It proved to be a fine 

 Lark. The Hawk approached within a few yards of the boat, 

 and after hovering about for a short time, turned his course 

 towards the shore. 



The Glede or Kite was a well-known bird, and much oftener 



seen in former days, even 



in towns, as we have 

 shown, than at present ; 

 but for some reason or 

 other they are getting 

 every year more scarce. 

 Still they may now and 

 then be observed soar- 

 ing in wide circles over 

 woods, easily distin- 

 guished from other birds 

 by their length of wing 

 and forked tails. There 

 is a very curious story 

 told by a gentleman, of 

 a strange manner in 

 which not less than fif- 

 teen were caught at the 

 same time : he says he 

 remembers when a boy, 

 that several of them happened to be roosting on some lofty 

 elm-trees in winter, when a fog came on, which, freezing as it 

 fell, completely glued their feet to the boughs ; and they were 

 all taken. The truth of this extraordinary anecdote has been 



The Kite. 



