Vol. xxiii.] 90 



from these Grouse-moors, until about eight years ago, when, 

 to our certain knowledge, two young Kites were shot, and 

 probably the old pair also, 



" Guns and traps were doubtless the chief cause of the 

 earlier decrease of the Kite. They made the bird rare 

 enough for its skin and eggs to become much coveted prizes 

 for the collector. 



"The first collector appeared on the scene some twenty 

 years ago, and he continued to loot systematically and 

 successfully until a prominent member of the British 

 Ornithologists'' Club used his influence and compelled him 

 to abandon his annual visits to the district. 



"During the greater part of this period the Kites suffered 

 cruelly. The old birds were ruthlessly shot and trapped by 

 keepers and farmers and no young appeared to fill the gaps. 

 It was patent that if some drastic steps were not taken 

 Milvus ictinus would soon be a mere memory. 



" Fortunately Dr. Salter, who had for some years done all 

 in his power to protect the Kite, reported the state of affairs 

 to Mr. Meade-Waldo, who promptly took practical steps to 

 prevent the final disappearance of one of our finest Eaptores. 



" Dr. Salter was so tied by his professorial duties during 

 term time that he could not visit the various breeding- 

 haunts, and hearing of a man who was devoting all his time 

 to studying the habits of our rare birds he requested him to 

 assist in the protection of the Kite. How the Kites fared 

 that year is known to several members of the Club. 

 Five years ago a book was published which gave away the 

 localities, and since that time egg-looters from all parts of 

 the country have been visiting the district in ever increasing 

 numbers, making the work of the protector extremely 

 difficult. It is clear that without the help accorded to 

 Dr. Salter and ourselves by Mr. Meade- Waldo and other 

 members of this Club the Kite would, ere this, have been 

 exterminated; even now it is doing little more than main- 

 taining its ground. 



" Five years ago there were, to the best of our knowledge, 

 only three pairs and an odd bird left. To-day we have 



