KITE. 81 



interesting addition to his aviary. They at once became 

 very tame and familiar, and were so gentle in disposition 

 as to be most engaging. Every morning they had their 

 liberty, never flew far, but soared to a great height in the 

 air, and, in ' still repeated circles,' displayed their peculiar 

 and graceful flight. To either lure or fist they always 

 returned when called. Mice were preferred by them to 

 birds or any other food. When these Kites were on 

 wing, rats let off from the cage-trap were expertly caught 

 by them." Magazine of Zoology and Botany, vol. ii. 

 p. 172. 



This bird has now become comparatively rare in Eng- 

 land ; extensive forests or well-wooded districts afforded 

 it the only chance of escape from the increasing desire to 

 preserve game, and the consequent war of extermination 

 carried on by gamekeepers against birds of prey gene- 

 rally. 



The nest, formed of sticks and lined with various soft 

 materials, is usually placed in the forked branch of a tree 

 in a thick wood. Two, and sometimes three eggs, of a 

 short oval form, measuring two inches two lines in length 

 by one inch nine lines in breadth, of a soiled white colour, 

 marked with a few reddish brown spots over the larger 

 end, are laid early in the season. The nest and its con- 

 tents are sometimes vigorously defended: a boy who 

 climbed up to one had a hole pecked through his hat, and 

 one hand severely wounded, before he could drive away 

 the parent bird. 



In the southern counties of England the Kite is rare : 

 Montagu saw but one in Devonshire in twelve years. Dr. 

 Moore considers it rare still, but records two or three 

 captures; and Mr. Couch mentions two instances of its 

 appearance in Cornwall. The woods about Alconbury 

 Hill are even now the breeding-places of the Kite. Mr. 



VOL. i. G 



