MILVIN.E. 



try to get it from him, and it, in general, changes hands, or 

 rather feet, several times before it is finally disposed of. Garbage 

 washed through the scupper holes, if at all eatable, is eagerly 

 pounced upon ; in fact, they are excellent scavengers, inland as 

 well as in the harbour. The kite is fearless and venturesome 

 in the pursuit of food ; it has been known to swoop down on, 

 and snatch food from the hand of a child, or even a grown up 

 person ; meat or other food in a plate, carried in hand, is not 

 safe from their attacks, and it would be the height of folly to carry 

 anything eatable on the head (the usual custom with natives 

 in this country), unless it was well covered over. They are easily 

 caught, by placing a light blanket on the ground and throwing 

 a piece of meat upon it. The kite swoops down on the meat, 

 its claws become entangled in the blanket, and the bird can be 

 secured before it can release itself. Soldiers often amuse them- 

 selves in this way, and after cutting the webs of the quills and 

 tail-feathers into fantastic shapes, let them go. 



Kites, although far more numerous near the haunts of man, 

 are by no means uncommon elsewhere. A camp is sure to be 

 infested by some scores of them ; they seem to know instinctively 

 when a meal is under preparation, and show increased activity 

 at these times. They have a peculiar habit of assembling 

 together in some favorite spot at the close of the day before 

 retiring to roost. 



All writers on the subject seem to agree that they breed 

 during the first three months in the year, and a nest 

 taken on Christmas day has been spoken of as exceptionally 

 early. I have taken nests from October to April, not in one year, 

 or in one district only, but habitually, as the following extracts 

 from my nesting memoranda will show : 



Most of these nests were observed inside cantonment limits ; 

 indeed, in the breeding season, there is scarcely a compound, 

 containing a suitable tree, that is not tenanted by a pair of these 

 birds ; in fact, they have a decided penchant for breeding in the 

 vicinity of man. This, considering the persecution they receive 

 at times, on account of the havoc they make in a brood of chickens, 



