76 BRITISH BIRDS, 



the air^ sailing in slow circles without an apparent effort^ with wings and 

 tail expanded to their fullest extent^ the latter ever and anon being twisted 

 to assist it to describe its graceful curves. From this habit of sailing in 

 the air the Kite has gained the almost universal name of " Glead " — a 

 corruption of the word " glide/' which aptly represents its beautiful aerial 

 movements. The haunts of the Kite in Great Britain are now the wildest 

 districts of Wales and the mountain-forests and glens of the Highlands. 

 These are the places it selects for nidification ; but at other times of 

 the year it may be observed in the more open country where woods are 

 scarce. Like most of its congeners, the Kite is a thorough wanderer, and 

 will search miles and miles of ground for food. In its habits it is a shy 

 and wary bird; and many of its actions partake of those of the Buzzards. 

 In spite of its wandering habits, however, the Kite seems attached to 

 certain districts, and may almost daily be seen high in air above them, 

 progressing in graceful curves until finally lost to view. In its flight over 

 the country it ever and anon pays more special attention to certain districts 

 likely to contain its food, sailing once or twice above them, and then again 

 passing onwards. Although it is said that the Kite is a migratory bird 

 in Great Britain, still this statement is open to considerable doubt. The 

 observations made by Mr. Booth point to the fact that it is a resident 

 species; and I have known several instances of late years where the bird 

 has been shot by gamekeepers in the winter months in districts where it 

 is also to be found in summer. The birds that are seen in England during 

 the autumn and spring months of the year are migrants, undoubtedly, 

 and very often immature birds from the continent. 



When in search of food the Kite moves along at a moderate height 

 from the earth ; but, like the Vultures, the Eagles, and the Buzzards, it 

 soars to an immense elevation at times ; and then its powers of flight are 

 seen to perfection. His long narrow wings are now at their fullest 

 expanse, and the tail is constantly in motion to guide him in his trackless 

 course through space. Now he glides forward, anon mounts upward in 

 ever widening circles; now remains fixed and almost motionless — then 

 onwards again, seeming to swim, instead of fly through the aerial ocean. 

 The Kite has none of the dash that marks the Sparrow-Hawk or the 

 Peregrine. His prey is taken on the ground ; and hence his flight displays 

 none of that impetuous rush that is so characteristic of those rapacious 

 birds that pursue their prey in open flight. 



From the peculiar nature of its flight, and from the inherent timidity 

 of its disposition, the Kite was a very favourite object of pursuit when 

 falconry was so largely practised as a sport. It was the custom to lure 

 the Kite from its aerial height, sometimes by displaying a large Owl with 

 a fox's brush attached to it, and then, when the Kite was low enough, to 

 cast a Greenland or Iceland Falcon at it. The Kite, seeing its mistake. 



