32 EGYPTIAN BIRDS 
to see if there is any tiny scrap of flesh, or skin, or 
sinew left hidden away under stone or sand. On 
several occasions I have seen Kites bathing in the 
water, so presumably, although they are called 
unclean birds, they are in reality as cleanly as most. 
As far as personal observation goes I should call 
the Swifts and Swallows the dirtiest birds ; anyhow 
they are more infested with odious parasites than 
any other birds I have handled. Kites build un- 
tidy, clumsy nests of sticks; rubbish, rags, and 
even bits of newspapers are to be sometimes found 
hanging on the outside: they are generally placed 
in the upper boughs of some high tree, and in 
many of the gardens in the centre of squares in 
Cairo you can watch them bringing food to their 
squealing young. They breed very early, and 
often they have a brood hatched by the end of 
January. 
There is something very fascinating in watch- 
ing their flight, it seems so easy and strong, and 
from its complete fearlessness it approaches so 
near the spectator that the movement of the tail 
as it turns to right or left can be seen acting as a 
well-directed rudder. As already stated, Pliny 
says it was observing this that gave man his first 
idea of how to steer his boats and ships. And 
