THE KITE. 75 



exhibit the audacity or courage of the Sparrowhawk. It 

 pounces unexpectedly upon its prey ; but its character seems 

 wanting in spirit, as numerous instances are recorded of 

 the maternal hen attacking the intruder, and by loud voci- 

 ferations succeeding in frightening it away from her brood. 



The nest of the Kite is usually placed in the forked 

 branch of a tree, and in the majority of cases the thickest 

 part of a wood is the favoured locality. The structure, 

 which is more finished than the domiciles of most Hawks, 

 is composed of sticks, and well lined with wool, hair, and 

 any soft material that can be obtained. 



The eggs are laid early in the season, generally two, 

 but sometimes three, in number ; they are a little more 

 than two inches long, and of a dirty or greenish- white 

 colour, marked at the larger end with a few reddish-brown 

 spots or blotches. The old birds are more courageous during 

 the breeding season than at any other time, and sometimes 

 show considerable vigour and spirit in defending their 

 home and progeny. The young are at first covered with a 

 dirty white down. They breed principally in Wales and 

 Scotland, and in some parts efforts have been made to pre- 

 serve them. 



The Kite is occasionally met with in most of the 

 English counties, but it is very rare in the south and west, 

 and more frequent in Cumberland and Westmoreland. 

 Russia, Siberia, and the forests of Germany, France, and 

 Italy, are places where it is said to be observed in compara- 

 tive frequency, and, according to some authorities, Egypt, 

 and other localities in Northern Africa. 



Mr. Yarrell states that formerly the Kite was trained 

 for purposes of falconry, and that an owl was generally 

 selected as the game to be pursued ; and it may be 



