KITE. 63 



RAPTORES. FALCONIDJE. 



PLATE XIII. 



KITE. 



MlLVUS IcTINUS. 



The Kite is not very numerous in Britain as a species, 

 and but partially distributed; being tolerably abundant in 

 some districts, and in others rarely seen. It is, nevertheless, 

 a bird well-known, partly on account of its peculiar flight and 

 appearance, which render it easily distinguishable from all 

 other predaceous birds ; and still more, perhaps, on account of 

 its habits, which render it peculiarly obnoxious to man, from 

 its partiality for the young of various species of game, as well 

 as for the cherished nurslings of the farm- yard. 



This species was formerly much more plentiful than it is 

 at present ; the increasing cultivation of territories formerly 

 left in their natural wild state of moor or woodland, and the 

 growing desire to preserve game, having operated upon this, 

 as upon all others of the predaceous tribes, in decreasing their 

 numbers, and limiting them to those localities that still re- 

 main in a state suited to their mode of life. 



The localities now best known as the resort of Kites, are 

 wooded districts in Cumberland, Westmoreland, and some 

 parts of Yorkshire. In Scotland, according to Mr. Selby, it 

 is more abundant, occurring plentifully in the vicinity of 

 Loch Katrine, and Loch Awe, as well as about Ben-Lomond. 

 It is partial to the neighbourhood of lakes and rivers, the 



VOL. I. F 



