THE RITE. 247 
leisurely upon its prey, and returning to the branch on which it has been 
perched. Sometimes, however, and especially in the breeding season, it 
rises high in the air, and displays a power of wing and an easy grace of 
flight which would hardly be anticipated from its formerly sluggish move- 
ments. This fine bird may still be seen in the New Forest, where I have 
often watched its airy circling flight. 
THE KITE may be known, even on the wing, from all other British birds 
of prey, by its beautifully easy flight and the long forked tail. Indeed, while 
flying, the Kite bears no small resemblance to a very large swallow, excepting 
that the flight is more gliding, and the wings are seldom flapped. 
It was in former days one of the commonest of the British birds, 
swarming in every forest, building its nest near every village, and being 
the greatest pest of the farmer and poultry-keeper, on account of its voracity, 
craft, and swiftness. Even the Metropolis was filled with these birds, which 
acted the same part that is played by vultures in more eastern lands, and 
were accustomed to haunt the streets for the purpose of eating the offal 
which was so liberally flung out of doors in the good old times, and which, 
but for the providential instincts of the Kites, would have been, permitted to 
decompose in the open streets. 
In the present day, however, the Kite is comparatively seldom seen in 
England, and when observed, is of sufficient rarity to be mentioned in the 
floating records of natural history. 
The flight’ of this bird is peculiarly easy and graceful, as the wings are 
seldom. flapped, and the Kite sails through the air as by the mere power of 
volition. From the gliding movements of the Kite when on the wing it has 
derived the name of Gled, from the old Saxon word glda. When in 
pursuit of prey, the Kite sails in circles, at a considerable height from the 
ground, watching with its penetrating gaze the ground beneath, and sweep- 
ing with unerring aim upon any bird, quadruped, or reptile that may take 
its fancy. 
The food of the Kite is rather general in its nature, consisting of various 
quadrupeds, young rabbits, hares, rats, mice, and moles, of which latter 
animals no less than twenty-two were discovered in the nest of a single 
Kite, showing how rapid and noiseless must be its movements when it can 
secure so wary and keen-eared an animal as a mole. It does not chase the 
swift-winged birds through the air, but pounces on many a partridge as it 
sits on the ground, and is remarkably ford of taking young and unfledged 
birds from their nests; reptiles of different kinds, such as snakes, frogs, 
lizards, and newts, also form part of its food, and it will not disdain to pick 
up a bee or a grasshopper when it can find no larger prey. The Kite is 
also a good fisher, waging nearly as successful war against the finny 
inhabitants of the rivers or ponds as the osprey itself; sweeping suddenly 
down upon the fish as they rise to the surface in search of food, or in their 
accustomed gambollings, and bearing them away to the shore, where it 
settles down and eats them in peace. 
The nest of the Kite is chiefly built with sticks as a foundation, upon 
which is placed a layer of moss, wool, hair, and other soft and warm articles. 
The locality which is chosen for the nest is generally in some thick wood, 
and the bird prefers a strong, forked branch for the resting-place. The eggs 
are generally two in number, and sometimes three, of a greyish or light- 
brownish white colour, speckled with reddish chestnut blotches, which, as is 
the case with so many hawk’s eggs, are gathered towards the larger end. 
The ordinary length of the common Kite is about twenty inches, but the 
sexes are rather variable in that respect, the females being always larger 
than the males. The colouring of the bird is very elegant, although 
