THE KITE. 



THE KITE (milvus vulgaris) belongs to a division 

 of rapacious birds, different from any of those that 

 have been mentioned. Its organs of flight being much 

 greater, in proportion to its organs of destruction ; and 

 while it is one of the most ravenous of birds, it is also 

 one of the most cowardly. The smallest of the hawks 

 puts it to flight; one lapwing, or two rooks, more than 

 match it ; and when it comes to the poultry-yard, it will 

 not dare to take any of the chickens from a vigilant 

 hen, but hovers about till she be off her guard? and 

 then steals ; but when it succeeds in getting prey, it 

 becomes so intent upon the satisfying of its appetite, 

 that it forgets every thing else. Advantage is often 

 taken of this, in order to destroy the bird; and one 

 chicken is sacrificed, in order to save the rest. When 

 the kite is hovering about, a chicken is put in its 



