KITE. 



strove. Another time a Kite, which having a gut cunningly 

 pulled out of her, and so let fly, caused all the Kites in that 

 quarter, who, as oftentimes the world is deceived, thinking her 

 prosperous when, indeed, she was wounded, made the poor Kite 

 find that opinion of riches may well be dangerous." THE 

 COUNTESS OF PEMBROKE'S Arcadia, Book I., written by Sir Philip 

 Sydney, Knight. 



Although Kites are such handsome birds, and of noble flight, 

 they did not stand high in popular esteem for moral qualities. 

 " Kite " and " Greedy Gled " are terms of opprobrium. No one 

 would think of using " Eagle " or " Falcon " as terms of contempt. 

 Nor had the Kite a reputation for wisdom. Mr George 

 Herbert's " Jacala Prudentum " says " Twirling the eyes too 

 much shows a Kite's brain." 



It is not complimentary to be called an " Owl," although it is 

 Minerva's bird. It conveys the idea of the wisdom being more 

 apparent than real. 



Note. " Craigenputtock," the abode of Thomas Carlyle, was probably called 

 so from being inhabited by Kites. In a newspaper pedigree of Mr Gladstone, 

 it is said the name originally was "Gledstane." 



16 



