160 THE BOOK OF THE OPEN AIR 



the weather, they are hovering close a fitful April sun smiles lovingly on 

 enough to the fortunate observer for the kite's haunt. Now that mists 

 him to note their streaked, reddish and tempests have vanished, let us 

 underparts and the scintillations of examine it more closely. From this 

 their wicked, yellow eyes. Their aerial grey pinnacle towering hundreds of 

 evolutions almost defy adequate descrip- feet above its fellows, unlimited hill 

 tion. One pair mounting above their scenery tawny yellow with its un- 

 fellows wheel and slide in a succession kempt name of cotton-grass confronts 

 of spirals with an enviable ease. Their the vision. On these purple-rimmed 

 movements appear to be wholly gov- hills heather is scarce, and where it 

 erned by their forked tails and they does exist, is for the most part short 

 glide smoothly with the minimum of and scrubby. Every little detail on 

 exertion. In fact it is the kite's tail the corresponding hillside adds a fresh 

 which renders his flight such a paragon charm to the scene ; the coppery 

 of perfection. Whilst the frost holds, glow of the lifeless bracken relieved by 

 these winged outlaws will take what intensely green patches of mossy turf ; 

 providence throws in their path ; they a "prill" rising from some hidden 

 are rendered bold beyond their wont source in the womb of the mountain, 

 and will pounce down fearlessly on gradually accumulating into a roaring 

 any scrap of offal or filth thrown, cascade, to fling itself at length into 

 with a delightful disregard for sanita- the swirling current in the valley ; 

 tion, just outside the cottages of the and the delicate tracery of the ivy- 

 hamlet. Now were kites always so and lichen-mantled crags, one and 

 harmless and such useful scavingers, all accentuate an already beauteous 

 all had gone well with them ; but picture. Up here in the deep gorges 

 unfortunately their insatiable lust for between the frowning hills the river, 

 poultry has often lead them into some especially when viewed from above, 

 ambush from which many a one was suggests a serpentine thread of silver, 

 never to issue alive. The pity of it It is shallow enough on the whole, but 

 is that they could not have confined wend your way further down-stream 

 their raids to the beetles, carrion, to more cultivated parts and it swells 

 moles, rats and rabbits which partly into a mighty salmon river. As high 

 comprise their varied menu. as this salmon do not venture, but 

 , Spring has left winter far behind, and sewin, the coveted spoil of the hill- 



