410 The Zoologist — October, 186G. 



sickly or wounded victim, or for offal of any sort. Our poet, therefore, 

 has not inaptly called it " the lazar kite," and, alluding to its habits, 

 in 'Julius Caesar' (Act v. Scene 3) he says, 



* * * " And kites 

 Fly o'er our heads, and downward look on us 

 As we were sickly prey." 



Again, in Part II. of Henry VI.' (Act. v. Scene 2). 



* * " A prey for carrion kites." 



In consequence of the ignoble habits of this bird, the word " kite" 

 was often used as a term of reproach. For example, 



" You kiie ! ''—Anioni/ and Cleopatra, Act iii. Scene 2. 

 And 



" Detested kite ! " — King Lear, Act i. Scene 4. 



When pressed by hunger, hovA-ever, the kite becomes bold, and will 

 enter a farm-yard and carry off young ducks and chickens. 



" Weve't not all one, an empty eagle were set 

 To guard ibe cbicken from a bungry kite. 

 As place Duke Humphrey for the king's protector." 



Henry VI., Part II Act iii. Scene 2. 



The synonym " puttock " is sometimes applied to the kite, some- 

 times to the common buzzard. In the following quotation (a beautiful 

 simile, referring to the supposed murder of Gloster by Suffolk) it 

 evidently has reference to the former bird : — 



" Who finds the partridge in the puttock's nest, 

 But may imagine how the bird was dead, 

 Allho' the kite soar with unblooded beak." 



Henry VI., Part II. Act iii. Scene 2. 



It would seem that with the ancients the kite was a bird of ill omen, 

 for in ' Cymbeline ' (Act i. Scene 2) we find, 



* * " I chose an eagle, 

 And did avoid a puttock." 



And, alluding again to the superiority of the eagle, Hastings says, 



" More pity that the eagle should be mewed, 

 While kites and buzzards prey at liberty." 



Richard III., Act i. Scene 1. 



The intractable disposition of the kite is thus noticed. 



