KITE. 69 



white ; and the upper parts of the body are more rufous than 

 in the adult. The effects of light and sunshine are particu- 

 larly observable in the colours of this bird ; the bright rufous 

 in the new feathers of the young birds of the year becomes 

 very much faded, and changes to a pale yellowish rust colour, 

 before the next annual return of the autumnal moult, which 

 occurs about August. 



These gradual changes of colour, from the effects of the 

 atmosphere, from the wearing away of the edges of the fea- 

 thers by friction, and from the daily increasing age of the 

 birds, are the causes of the different descriptions of different 

 authors, and of the varied appearances to be seen among 

 cabinet specimens ; although, probably, all birds of the same 

 species resemble one another in their respective stages of 

 growth. 



The egg, figured 13, belongs to the Kite. 



