138 KITES. 



and then revenges itself by killing and eating the fattest of 

 its persecutors. 



Rapid as is the flight of these birds of prey, and accustomed 

 as they are to pounce at once on their game, and if disap- 

 pointed leave it, and continue their search elsewhere, they will 

 at times follow a devoted bird for a length of time with great 

 perseverance. Not long ago, some fishermen belonging to 

 Newhaven, when about five miles from the Bass-rock, off the 

 coast of Scotland, observed a Hawk in close pursuit of a 

 small bird. Apparently exhausted by its numberless sudden 

 turns, spiry circles, and various efforts to escape, it was just 

 on the point of falling into the claws of its pursuer, when the 

 fishermen gave a loud shout by way of frightening the Hawk, 

 on which the little bird flew down for protection, and perched, 

 quite exhausted, in the midst of them. It proved to be a fine 

 Lark. The Hawk approached within a few yards of the boat, 

 and after hovering about for a short time, turned his course 

 towards the shore. 



The Glede or Kite was a well-known bird, and much 

 oftener seen in former days, even in towns, as we have shown, 

 than at present ; but for some reason or other they are getting 

 every year more scarce. Still they may now and then be 

 observed soaring in wide circles over woods, easily distin- 

 guished from other birds by their length of wing and forked 

 tails. There is a very curious story told by a gentleman, of 

 a strange manner in which not less than fifteen were caught 

 at the same time : he says he remembers when a boy, that 

 several of them happened to be roosting on some lofty elm- 

 trees in winter, when a fog came on, which, freezing as it fell, 

 completely glued their feet to the boughs ; and they were all 

 taken. The truth of this extraordinary anecdote has been 

 often questioned by naturalists, who maintain that there is a 

 sufficiency of internal warmth in a bird's foot to thaw any 

 moisture which might produce the effect above mentioned; 

 but when we consider the power of sudden frosts, and the 

 comparatively small circulation of blood in a bird's claw, we 

 see no reason to doubt the fact, which is in a great degree 

 confirmed by some other instances of the effect of frost, of an 



