XXI.— THE KITE, 



" When the kite builds look to lesser linen."— Shakes- 

 peare. 



The Kite is a melancholy example of unutilized 

 talents. He could, if he chose to exert himself, be 

 monarch of all he surveyed in Calcutta, but he lets 

 the crow get there before him every time. You 

 never see a crow miss the opportunity of annoying 

 a Kite, but what does the Kite do in retaliation ? 

 He essays a few robberies with violence, it is true ; 

 but only once, and that after several years' residence 

 here, have I seen him successful. Usually the 

 pursued crow " puts in," as a falconer would say, 

 to a house or tree in time to save his bacon or whatever 

 else he has appropriated. Indeed, I have seen him 

 settle down to peek at his booty, held firmly under 

 his foot, before the baffled Kite had wheeled away. 

 That the Kite can be formidable if he likes, anyone 

 may find out who cares to stroll out on a verandah 

 with an unconcerned expression and anything edible — 

 or that a Kite'p experience of human habits leads 

 him to think may be so. The experimenter will find 

 that an unseen bird will sweep down from behind 



