jo 
a4. 
KITE. 
25. 
PARASITE 
F. 
DESCRIPTION. 
By AGL O10 sd 
F. Milvus, Ind. Orx. i. p. 20. 
Kite, Geu. Syx. i. p. 61. 43.—Id. Sup. p. 172 
HIS is faid to be moft frequent in the temperate and well in- 
habited parts of Ruffia, more f{earce in Sidivia, but does not ven- 
ture far to the north; about Lake Baikal not uncommon, but none 
beyond the Leva. ‘This bird frequents fheep downs in the breeding 
feafon, efpecially thofe which are fkirted with wood, but in winter 
delights in the neighbourhood of towns watered by rivers, where it 
has been sbeme: to {weep off dexteroufly any offal floating on the 
furface: will lay as far as four eggs, fome of which are of a pure 
white, and others much fpeckled, This bird, as well as other birds 
of prey, drives away the young as foon as they are able to fhift for 
themfelves. It has been obferved to me, that a female kite will 
weigh two pounds and ten ounces, and the egg two ounces and a 
half, fo that feventeen eggs would but juft exceed the weight of the 
bird; but the raven is fo difproportionate as to require forty-eight 
to anfwer the fame purpofe *. 
Le Parafite, Levaill. Oi/ i. p. 88. pl. 22. 
Milan Parafite, Daudin. Oru. ii. p. 150. CXxil. 
HIS by many may be efteemed only a variety of our Kite, but 
Mr. Levaillant affures us, that it differs materially in having the - 
tail lefs forked, and in being of fmaller fize: the bill yellow inftead of 
black, which the common kite has, and the cere blueifh inftead of 
yellow; however the legs in both are yellow: irides brown hazel: 
the general colour is that of tanned leather: the middle of each fea- 
ther darkifh; the under parts more inclined to cinnamon colour : 
© Col. Montagu. 
cheeks 
