110 HALF-HOURS IN THE GREEN LANES. 



northerly parts of Britain, however, that such is the 

 case, and this is a good instance of how a migratory 

 habit over-laps, so to speak, that of a continuous 

 stay. It loves the open country, and roosts on the 

 ground, under the shelter of dry grass or heath. 

 The keen sight of this bird is proverbial among 

 naturalist-sportsmen. 



The Kite (Milvus regalis), is now comparatively 

 rare in this country, a circumstance that is as much 

 due to the felling of our woods, where it formerly 

 bred, as to the wholesale destruction to which all 

 birds of prey have been subjected by game-keepers 

 and others. Formerly, it was just as common as it 

 is now scarce, and it was then much in use for 

 hawking purposes. All the kites may be distin- 

 guished by their long, forked tails. This bird is 

 still common in Algeria, and the Eev. Dr. Tristram 

 states that it there readily approaches man, and hangs 

 about the Arabs' camps, waiting for the offal, and 

 keeping an eye on the poultry stock. It is a noble- 

 looking bird, and it is more than doubtful whether 

 we have not lost more than we have gained by its 

 comparative extinction. Another rare British bird, 

 which was also once common, is the Hobby (Hypo- 

 iriorcliis subbuteo), a closely allied form to the falcons. 

 It is a summer migrant whenever it does visit us, 

 departing in the winter months, for southern Kussia 

 and the Crimea, where it is very common. There, 

 on the smallest group of trees, you may be sure of 

 finding at least one nest of this bird. It feeds on 



