CHRISTOPHER IN HIS SPORTING JACKET 



certainty in size, not to distinguish between a kite 

 and a buzzard, which was very stupid, and unlike us 

 — more like Poietes in Salmonia. The flight of the 

 buzzard, as may be seen in Selby, is slow — and ex- 

 cept during the season of incubation, when it often 

 soars to a considerable height, it seldom remains long 

 on the wing. It is indeed a heavy, inactive bird, 

 both in disposition and appearance, and is generally 

 seen perched upon some old and decayed tree, such 

 being its favourite haunt. Him we soon thought little 

 or nothing about — and the last one we shot, it was, 

 we remember, just as he was coming out of the de- 

 serted nest of a crow, which he had taken possession 

 of out of pure laziness; and we killed him for not 

 building a house of his own in a country where there 

 was no want of sticks. But the kite or glead, as the 

 same distinguished ornithologist rightly says, is pro- 

 verbial for the ease and gracefulness of its flight, 

 which generally consists of large and sweeping circles, 

 performed with a motionless wing, or at least with a 

 slight and almost imperceptible stroke of its pinions, 

 and at very distant intervals. In this manner, and 

 directing its course by its tail, which acts as a rudder, 

 whose slightest motion produces effect, it frequently 

 soars to such a height as to become almost invisible 

 to the human eye. Him we loved to slay, as a bird 

 worthy of our barrel. Him and her have we watched 

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