66 FALCONID.E. 



is a lofty beech, oak, pine, or fir ; the structure is large, and 

 formed of dry branches ; it is lined with straw, moss, or wool, 

 or similar warm substances. The eggs, which are three or 

 four in number, are white, clouded with a dirty greenish 

 colour ; sometimes spotted, as they are represented in the 

 plate, sometimes plain. Incubation lasts three weeks, during 

 which time the female is assiduously fed and watched by the 

 male bird. The nestlings occasionally betray their place of 

 retreat, by the cries they utter whenever the parent birds 

 approach. 



The food of the Kite is of a very varied character, and 

 consists chiefly of what can be taken from the ground ; 

 such as young hares, mice, snakes, efts, frogs, and toads ; 

 also grasshoppers and other insects. The Kite is a great 

 destroyer of young ducks, geese, and poultry, when he can 

 meet with them unprotected ; but not being of a daring cha- 

 racter, except when much pressed by hunger, he is easily 

 driven from the pursuit of them. Nevertheless, in defence 

 of their own young when molested, the Kites display much 

 boldness as well as affection. It has also been observed to 

 take live fish ; and, in default of living food, carrion, and even 

 dead fish, snatched as they float from the surface of the water, 

 are not rejected. 



The services of the Kite, however, in destroying obnoxious 

 animals and removing offensive carrion, are overlooked or 

 forgotten, when in an evil hour it comes within reach of the 

 farmer whose poultry-yard has been robbed by this bold in- 

 truder ; the luckless carcase of which is henceforth doomed to 

 grace the walls of the barn or cow-house, as many of its 

 fellows have done before. 



The Kite, although indigenous in Britain, and resident 

 throughout the year, has been observed to shift its quarters 

 from time to time according to the season. 



On the continent of Europe, where it is found from south 



