262 REMINISCENCES OF A SPORTSMAN. 



of eight years." Though not worthy of the trouble of 

 training to hawk at command, it does not want for 

 predacity in search of food. " At a farm-house," says 

 Colonel Montague, "in the neighbourhood of Hastings, 

 a servant girl was alarmed by an unusual uproar among 

 the poultry, and on looking out she saw a large bird 

 hovering close to the window over some coops where 

 several broods of ducks and chickens were left. She 

 accordingly sallied forth to drive the bird away ; but he 

 took so little notice of her that she snatched up a 

 broom, and actually knocked him down and killed him. 

 It proved to be a kite, which had probably a nest in tlie 

 neighbouring wood." A circumstance similar to that 

 just related we witnessed in one of this species, that 

 afforded us no small amusement. 



" A poor woman was washing some entrails in a stream 

 of water, part of which extended a few yards out of the 

 basket, placed in the water ; the hungry bird had long 

 been hovering over, viewing with anxious eyes so delicious 

 a bait, and took the opportunity of pouncing upon and 

 carrying off a part, in spite of all the woman's efforts 

 with hands and tongue, the latter of which might have 

 alarmed a more powerful enemy. We remember an 

 instance of two male kites in the spring of the year 

 being so intent on combat that they both fell to the 

 ground, holding firmly by each other's talons, and 

 actually suffered themselves to be killed by a wood- 

 man who was close by, with his bill-hook." 



In England it is chiefly observed in the more 

 wooded districts, where timber-trees abound ; it is 

 also common in the eastern parts, but is rare in the 

 north, and even more so in the west ; for in twelve 

 years' residence in Devonshire, we never observed but 



