THE GREY FALCON, KITE, AND BUZZARD. 273 



state; but, notwithstanding his honours and emolu- 

 ments, he was forbidden to take more thair three 

 draughts of beer from his horn, lest intoxication should 

 cause a neglect of his duty. 



Of the different kinds of hawks used for this diver- 

 sion, we npw know little more than the names, but 

 the 



GREY FALCON 



was that which in elegance and size excelled all the 

 rest. Its tlrroat is of a delicate white, and the ground 

 colour of its whole plumage is the same, but variegat- 

 ed with dusky hues, spots and bars. This eleganfe 

 bird is an inhabitant of the northern districts of Scot- 

 land, and when falconry was fashionable, it was held 

 in high estimation. In this, as well as the other tribes, 

 of animated nature, a number of varieties exist. 



THE KITE 



is a bird of the rapacious kind, for which the good' 

 house-wives and breeders of poultry have an impla- 

 cable dislike. He flies round and round to reconnoi- 

 tre a breed of chickens, and then on a sudden darts, 

 like lightning on one of the unresisting little crea- 

 tures, and in a moment carries it oft, in spite of the 

 cries of the hen, which has not a power of wing suffi- 

 cient to enable her to mount into the air and pursue 

 the plunderer. The kite may be easily distinguished 

 from all other birds of prey, by his forked tail, as 

 well as by his slow and equable motion on the wing. 

 Its length is about twenty-seven inches, and the ex- 

 pansion of its wings nearly five feet. It usually builds 

 it* nest, in woods, especially in mountainous countries. 

 The high soaring of the kite is considered as a prog- 

 nostic of dry weather, and Lord Bacon's authority 

 sanctions the opinion. 



THE BUZZARD. 



in its habits and disposition, resembles the kite, and is 

 not much inferior in si/.e; its length being about 

 twenty-two inches, and the full expansion of its wings, 

 about five feet. This bird is sluggish and inactive. 

 It feeds on birds, rabbits, moles, and mice. In sum- 

 mer he lives chiefly by robbing the nests of oth**. 



