412 RECREATIONS OF A NATURALIST 



the collection which was formed by Mr Booth in his 

 beautiful gallery of British birds, in the Dyke Road, 

 which, by his liberality, has since his death become 

 the property of the Corporation of Brighton. 



From what I have seen of the Kite in parts of 

 France, Holland, Greece, and Thessaly, where at 

 close quarters I have sometimes watched three or 

 four on the wing at once, I am disposed to echo the 

 opinion of the Gloucestershire naturalist in regard 

 to it. Struck with its grand appearance on the 

 wing, he described it as "the finest native bird that 

 we possess, and all its deportment partakes of a 

 dignity peculiar to itself, well becoming a denizen 

 of the forest or the park." More's the pity that it 

 should be now so scarce. 



