122 ACCIPITRES. 



has in these cases the appearance of descending as it drifts. 

 But that is an optical deception ; for all things that are higher 

 than the eye, appear to descend as they recede, even though 

 they are rising ; and the kite may often be observed to have 

 gained height, while thus appearing to float downwards. If 

 on those occasions an alarm is given, the bird hauls closer to 

 the wind, and makes off. 



A kite overtaken by a whirlwind, though not an every-day 

 sight, is by no means an uninteresting one. The kite feels 

 the first action of the revolving air as if it were a breeze, 

 trims to it, and is borne upward in a spiral which gradually 

 expands as it becomes elevated, till at last the bird escapes to 

 straight flight, and takes its departure as if not quite certain 

 what may be the matter. 



Though kites nestle in woods, they beat about in open 

 places, and generally places where there is not much herbage 

 on the ground. They are seldom seen over corn-fields, or 

 places which are very thickly tangled with bushes, though 

 they often hover on the margins of the brakes, to pounce upon 

 mice, and also upon young birds when these first venture from 

 the nest. The cold swards by the sides of the upland streams, 

 and the upland farms, where the pastures are thin and bare, 

 and any thing stirring on the ground can be easily discerned 

 from the height at which the kite flies, are the places at which 

 it is most frequently to be met with. In those situations, it 

 is very destructive to the young of domestic poultry ; and so 

 intent is it upon that species of depredation, that it will very 

 frequently carry off a chicken in spite of the good woman of 

 the cottage and her broom, and plenty of clamour to boot. 

 But though the kite, after it has come in contact with its 

 prey, is not easily drawn off, and instances have occurred in 

 which it has been knocked on the head, yet it will not face a 

 brood hen, or even, as is said, a partridge, when excited in 

 defence of her young. It is an adventurous and greedy thief, 



