ANECDOTES. 261 



indeed to every common observer. Although the fe- 

 male weighs less than three pounds usually, yet her 

 wings extend beyond five feet. The male, according to 

 Colonel jNIontague, " weighs about two pounds six 

 ounces ; length two feet two inches. The bill yellowish, 

 point dusky ; cere, yellow ; irides, the same, but of a 

 light colour. Head grey, streaked do\vn the middle of 

 each feather with dusky ; back and wing coverts dusky, 

 edged with ferruginous marks ; the upper parts more or 

 less ferruginous, streaked with dusky ; lightest on the 

 breast ; quill feathers dusky black ; the legs are yellow, 

 claws black. 



" The tail of this bird at once distinguishes it from all 

 others of the genus, being much forked; the exterior 

 feathers are twelve inches in length. The female is 

 somewhat larger, measuring in length two feet four 

 inches, breadth five feet six inches ; in colour much 

 resembling the other six, but in general not so ferru- 

 ginous." We must, however, observe that the kite 

 varies much by age, more so than is generally known. 

 Of its habits we may remark, that though common in 

 some parts, it is scarce in others. It is more frequent 

 in woods than in champaign countries ; it seemed, how- 

 ever, somewhat of a rover, as we have known a pair 

 to have been seen almost daily, and then to be altogether 

 missed for some months. In some parts of Scotland it 

 is frequently met with, in others not at all. Mr. Mac- 

 gillivray says, " I have observed it in the counties of 

 Aberdeen, Stirling, and Arg3de ; but in the Hebrides 

 and in the southern division of Scotland I have never 

 met with it. As a proof of its rarity in the latter 

 district, I know of only one specimen that came through 

 the hand of the bird-stuffers in Edinburgh in the course 



