Vol. XLV 
897 3ARLOW, WVesting Habits of White-tailed Kite. IS 
ing grounds, and the White-tailed Kite is found scattered in pairs 
at suitable locations throughout the county. 
It has been my pleasure to spend considerable time during the 
past few years in observing the nesting habits of several pairs of 
Kites, distributed at various points throughout the county, and 
the results tend to show considerable individuality in the respec- 
tive pairs of birds. ‘The White-tailed Kite being of unquestion- 
able benefit, is deserving of the fullest protection, and in one 
locality at least I know that its usefulness is appreciated by the 
farmers. Its principal food in this section consists of small 
rodents, such as gophers, field mice and wood rats, lizards and 
probably in season a few grasshoppers. Mr. Henry W. Carriger, 
of Sonoma, Cal., who has had considerable experience with this 
bird, writes me of finding a freshly-killed ground squirrel lodged 
in a tree beneath a nest, and which had undoubtedly been captured 
by one of the Kites. This is probably larger game than they 
attack as a rule. 
With the gradual settling up of the country there is no doubt 
but that this bird is becoming rarer each year. ‘They are essen- 
tially birds of the valley and are rarely seen in the foothills and 
mountains. One pair which I have known for years and which 
had never failed to nest in a particular growth of live oaks each 
year, was missed from its accustomed haunts the past spring and 
could not be located anywhere in the vicinity. A wood choppers’ 
camp had been erected in the grove and the Kites, in their gentle 
and unsuspecting nature, had probably fallen prey to the gun of 
some misguided wood chopper. 
Their flight is even and graceful, often quite rapid but lacking 
the dash of the true Falcons. In hunting in the early morning 
hours both birds often go together, and they may frequently be 
seen hovering motionless in air, much after the manner of the 
Sparrow Hawk. ‘The principal note consists of a low, plaintive, 
musical whistle, quite pleasing to the ear, and which is uttered 
both when the bird is at rest on some tree top and occasionally 
while it is on the wing in the vicinity of its nest. 
With few exceptions I have found this Kite nesting in level 
or slightly rolling country where the live oak is abundant. A 
pair of these birds will take up their abode in a favored location 
