89 [Vol. xxiii. 



Mid-Wales all the year round, whereas they are brought to 

 the lowlands from the high and bare mountains of the North 

 during the winter months, no further comment is necessary. 

 Even in a mild winter there would be sufficient carrion on 

 these hills to sustain life, while in a winter of great severity, 

 when the needs of these birds would be greater, the supply 

 of carrion would be much more plentiful. 



" This, undoubtedly, is one of the chief reasons why the 

 Kite (Milvus icihms) has survived in our neighbourhood 

 after becoming extinct in other parts. 



" Sixty years ago the Kite was fairly common all over 

 Wales, but particularly so in the district we have named. 

 There are farmers still living who remember as many as 30 

 Kites which roosted regularly in one huge tree ; and most of 

 the old crofters on the hills of Radnorshire, Breconshire, and 

 even of Cardiganshire will tell you that one of their boyish 

 cares in the spring of the year was to guard the broods of 

 chickens from the depredations of the Kite, which was then 

 as common as the Carrion-Crow [Corviis corone) is now. 



" Between the years 1850 and 1880 the range of the Kite 

 became greatly reduced. Twenty-seven years ago one was 

 shot near Craven Arms (Salop) and was regarded as a rare 

 bird. This specimen is now in the possession of the Vicar 

 of Disserth, Radnorshire. About the same time several were 

 shot near Symond's Yat and were considered rare. 



" With the advent of the breech-loading gun and the 

 stricter preservation of the Grouse, the Kite suffered further 

 persecution. To quote an example: on a Grouse-moor in 

 Radnorshire one keeper, who is still living, shot 30 Kites ; 

 he often followed them to their nesting-haunts and fre- 

 quently destroyed both old birds. 



" A graphic description was given us the other day of how 

 he killed the last pair which had attempted to breed in the 

 Edw Valley. The birds, which were evidently old and wily, 

 would not come within range, so he got the farmers to assist 

 him in building a large bower near the nest, and from this 

 shelter he soon secured both birds. 



"• The Kite continued to breed in the Wye Valley, 7 miles 



