388 THE GAME PRESERVER'S GUIDE. 



decidedly red. The nest is formed of sticks like those of the 

 carrion crow, and lined with feathers, wool, hair, <fcc. It is 

 usually made early in the spring, the deepest recesses of a 

 large wood, and the fork of a high tree being chosen. The 

 female lays two or three eggs, of a slightly oval form, the 

 long diameter being, as in all the birds of prey, little greater 

 than the short; they measure two inches and two lines by 

 one inch nine lines, are of a dirty white colour, marked on 

 the larger end with a few reddish brown spots. 



In its mode of taking its prey the kite resembles the 

 kestrel, not striking it in the air but pouncing on it while 

 on the ground, and in this way being very formidable to 

 ground birds and leverets. 



Of the cunning of the kite Mr. Colquhoun gives a remark- 

 able instance. He says, " Kites generally build in the fir 

 forests on the hills, and select a tree with a thin bare stem, 

 often very difficult to climb. I once concealed myself at 

 the foot of a tree where a kite was sitting, in order to shoot 

 it on its return to the nest ; for they generally fly off at the 

 most distant approach of an enemy. I was perfectly hid, 

 and after waiting nearly an hour, had an opportunity of wit- 

 nessing the tact and cunning of the bird. The sun was 

 shining warm upon the nest, or it would most likely not 

 have kept me so long; at last I saw it flying round in very 

 wide circles, which gradually narrowed ; it then alighted 

 upon a distant tree, and peering round in every direction 

 chose a nearer, and so on until it came within three or four 

 trees of the nest. It was now within shot ; but I had, un- 

 fortunately, so placed myself as only to command the nest 

 tree, never doubting that it would alight on this before it 

 settled on the nest. But I was out in my reckoning ; as 

 soon as it had tolerably reassured itself, it rose perpendicu- 

 larly in the air and came down upon its nest like a stone. 

 The manner in which I was concealed prevented my getting a 

 flying shot ; so nothing remained but to fire through the nest, 

 which proved a sufficient defence, as the kite flew away and 

 never returned." It will from this be gathered that it is by 

 no means easy to get a shot at the kite, and that the keeper 

 must rely upon the trap to get rid of it. 



