64 FALCONID.E. 



waters of which supply a considerable portion of its customary 

 food. It is also found in Wales. 



The Kite is considered a heavy and sluggish bird, and its 

 appearance when perched might seem to justify that opinion, 

 but for a restlessness in its brilliant eyes, and a sinister ex- 

 pression of countenance, that seem at variance with a dull and 

 heavy character ; and even in confinement, when moving 

 about its cage from perch to perch, the Kite exhibits a light- 

 ness, grace, and ease of motion, that prepare the observer to 

 expect the buoyancy of flight and power of wing that so 

 eminently characterize its actions in a state of liberty. 



The length of wing possessed by this species gives an ex- 

 panse greatly disproportioned to its weight, which does not 

 exceed two pounds and a half, and enables the bird to sustain 

 itself for a great length of time in the air without fatigue. 

 Its flight is slow and graceful ; for hours it may be seen 

 floating in the air with little movement of the wings ; its tail 

 is, however, continually in motion from side to side, directing 

 the movement of the body. It sometimes rises to a great 

 elevation, in slow and repeated circles, mounting and soaring 

 until lost to sight. 



The elevation to which some species of birds rise is truly 

 astonishing. Humboldt, observes Mr. Kirby, says that the 

 Condor soars to the height of Chimborazo, an elevation almost 

 six times greater than that at which the clouds that over- 

 shadow our plains are suspended.* 



This power of rising to such surprising elevations, is chiefly 

 attributable to the means with which birds are endowed of 

 receiving air at pleasure into certain parts of their bodies. 

 Mr. Kirby, speaking on this subject in the interesting work 

 before referred to, says, " Of all animals, birds are most pene- 

 trated by the element in which they move ; their whole or- 

 ganization is filled with air, as the sponge with water ; their 

 * Kirby 's Bridgewater Treatise, vol. ii. p. 473. 



