The White-tailed Kite 



Peyton has recently 

 reported two pairs 

 which nested in 

 1915 near Sespe in 

 Ventura County. 

 One nest was placed 

 eighteen and the 

 other twenty feet 

 up in live oak trees. 

 Another, probably 

 a second attempt 

 on the part of one 

 pair whose young 

 had mysteriously 

 disappeared, was 

 found a mile away 

 in the top of a big 

 sycamore. Unfor- 

 tunately for their 

 race, White-tailed 

 Kites lay most 

 adorable eggs, quite 

 the handsomest of 

 any of the Raptors, 

 and that is high 

 tribute of praise. 

 Basically creamy 

 white, the surfaces 

 are half buried, or 

 else altogether cov- 

 ered with chocolate 

 in several intensi- 

 ties, and each of 

 ravishing richness. 

 In the present pre- 

 carious condition of 

 the species, there- 

 fore, the State must 

 appeal toihe honor 

 of oologists that 



they restrain their cupidity, no less than to the gallantry of gunners that 

 they forbear to shoot their friends. 



1651 



Taken in Ventura County Photo by the Author 



WHITE-TAILED KITE FLUSHING FROM NEST 



