

(4) 



The Kite of dead. Milvus. 



Numb. IV. 



IT S Weight was two Pound 1 3 Ounces : Its Length from the end of the Bill to 

 the end of the Tail 2 Foot 4 Inches : Its Breadth when extended was near 5 Foot; 

 the Beak was 2 Inches long, the upper Chap hanging oyer the lower half an Inch. 



Its Head, Chin, and part of the Neck are afh-colour, varied with black Lines ; the 

 Brcaft, Belly and Thighs are of a reddifh brown, regularly fpotted with black; the Back 

 of a duflcy brown like the Buzzards, the Feathers next to the Tail of the fame Colour 

 with it, having their middle Parts or Shafts black ; the lefler row of Wing-Feathers are 

 party-colour'd of red, black and white ; the middle Part of each Feather along the 

 Shaft is black J the long fcapular Feathers covering the Back have black Lines like 

 the Flags ; the Feathers covering the infide of the Wing are red, with black Spots in 

 their Middles : The Plumage of the lower fide hath the Edges afli-colour'd, then 

 follows red, the middle Part being black : The black Part is by Degrees lefs and lefs 

 from the Chin to the Tail ; fo that under the Tail only the Shafts are black; the red 

 Colour is alfo more diluted towards the Tail. The flag Feathers of the Wings are in 

 Number 24, the 5 outmoft are black, the next 6 are of a dark cinereous Colour j all the 

 reft are again black; the laft party-colour'd of red, white and brown; all but the 5 or 6 

 exterior Feathers have in their outward Webs black tranfverfe Lines, the Spaces between 

 the Lines being whitifti, efpecially from the 6th to the nth: The foremoft of the 

 fccond row of Feathers are black ; as alfo the baftard Wing : The Wings ciofed are al- 

 moft as long as the outmoft Feathers of the Tail. 



The Tail is forked, the middle Feathers of which arc 1 1 Inches long, the outermoft 

 14 Inches : The under Side are of a pale reddifli Colour, with black Lines acrofs. 



The Bill is of a flefliy Colour, and in fome blackifti, having fcarce any Tooth like 

 Appendices; the Tongue broad and thick, as in other carnivorous Birds ; in the Palate 

 there is a Cavity equal to the Tongue; the Sear or Skin about the Noftrils is yellow; in 

 the Roof of the Mouth is a double Cranny or Hole ; the Eyes are large, the Iridis. of a 

 pale but lovely yellow. 



The Legs and Feet yellow; the outmoft fore Toe join'd to the middle one by a 

 Membrane reaching almoft half way ; the Talons black, that of the back Toe being the 

 greateft ; the Talon of the middle Toe harh a ftiarp Edge on the infide. 



It hath a great Gall, and a large Craw ; the ftreight Gut below the Appendices is 

 much dilated, as in others of this Kind. 



Its Manner of flying is by fpreading its Wings, and ballancing itfelf in the Air, refting 

 as it were immoveable a long Time without any motion of its Wings, and with very 

 little moving glides through the Air, from Place to Place, which it is thought has 

 given it the Name of Glead. 



It is diftinguiftied from all other Birds of Prey by its forked Tail, and is faid to 

 be a Bird of Paflage, fhifting Places according to the Seafons of the Year. 



They are a great Deftroyer of Chickens, Ducklings and Goflings ; being fo bold as 

 to come and take them from out of the Gardens, or Courts-yards of Houfes in the 

 Country, Cities, and Places frequented by Men. 



ne 



