258 



ACCIPITRES. BIRDS. FALCOXIDJS. 



so that, as stated by Mr. Gould, from ten to forty of 

 them may not unfrequently be seen reposing on a single 

 tree, after securing their morning meal. Their food 

 consists partly of carrion, partly of reptiles and insects; 

 and it is not often that they prey upon birds or small 

 Mammalia. The nest, which is about the size of that 

 of a crow, is composed of sticks, and lined with strips 

 of bark, leaves, &c. ; it is built amongst the highest 

 branches of lofty trees. The eggs are two or three in 

 number, usually of a buffy white colour, blotched or 

 mottled nearly all over with reddish-brown. 



THE WHITE-NAPED FALCON (lerax eutolmus) . The 

 genus lerax, which is peculiar to the East Indies, 

 includes the smallest species of the family Falconidae; 

 but, notwithstanding their diminutive stature, these 

 little birds are by no means inferior in courage to the 

 largest and strongest of their allies. Their talons are 

 formed on the precise model of those of the larger 



falcons ; their little beaks are strong and much hooked, 

 and the margins of the upper mandible armed with 

 large teeth, indicating predaceous propensities of the 

 very highest order. These little falcons, often smaller 

 than a thrush, are frequently trained by the Hindoos 

 for the purpose of falconry, when they are flown at 

 quails and other game of corresponding size. Captain 

 Mundy describes the mode of flying this falcon in the 

 following words : " The mode of starting it is different 

 from that used with any other hawk. The falconer 

 holds the little well-drilled savage within the grasp of 

 his hand ; the head and tail protruding at either end, 

 and the plumage carefully smoothed down. When he 

 arrives within twenty or thirty yards of the quarry, the 

 sportsman throws his hawk, much as he would a cricket 

 ball, in the direction of it. The little creature gains 

 his wings in an instant, and strikes his game after the 

 manner of the Bhause (Goshawk)." 



KITES. 



THE COMMON KITE (Milvus 



ris), although 



formerly very abundant in this country, is now of 



comparatively rare occurrence, especially in the south- 

 ern parts of the kingdom, the gradual clearing of the 



Fig. 101. 



The Common Kite (Milvus vulgaris). 



extensive ranges of forest, which form his favourite 

 retreat, having exposed him to be all but exterminated 

 by the gamekeepers. The districts where the Kite i s 



now most frequently met with, are the lake country of 

 Cumberland and Westmoreland, and the south-western 

 part of Scotland On the continent of Europe it is not 



