168 



A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



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The Kite (Milvus m. milvus), as viewed from below. 

 {From a sketch by F. C. R. Jonrdam.) 



Field-characters. — Exterminated in its former haunts in our 

 woodlands, is now hardly known in British Isles outside moun- 

 tainous coun- 

 try of central .^g^^iw p 

 Wales, where , ^gs^P % w»gmamH 

 it nests in «jfl W7/. 

 oak-groves on 

 lower slopes 

 and ranges 

 hills for food. 

 Like the Buz- 

 zard, the Kite 

 will sail for 

 hours in wide 

 circles high 

 above hill- 

 sides, but appearance is very different, long pointed wings and 

 especially long deeply-cleft tail by which it guides its course pro- 

 claim it at once, even if distance be too great to distinguish 

 characteristic white patch on dark under side of wing. At rest, 

 greyish-white head and rusty-red upper-parts are diagnostic. A 

 silent bird as a rule ; the shrill mewing " wheeou-wheeou-wheeou " 

 is pitched higher and iterated more rapidly although less loud and 

 much less frequent than Buzzard's long drawn cry. 



Breeding-habits. — In Welsh hills usual nesting-place is in fork 

 of oak in a rather open wood on hillside, but in Scotland most nests 

 appear to have been in Scotch pines. Nest. — Placed close to main 

 stem, not out on branch, composed of sticks solidified with turf, etc., 

 and lined with lumps of wool, and a miscellaneous collection of 

 rubbish, rags, cord, remains of various animals, etc. ; with a flattish 

 cup. Eggs. — Two or three as a rule ; only one in case of old birds 

 and very rarely four have been recorded. Colour white, sometimes 

 unmarked but generally spotted and blotched with varying shades 

 of reddish to purplish-brown. Frequently also brown hair-lines 

 are met with. Average size of 21 British eggs, 57.3 X 44.94. Max. : 

 61.3x46.3 and 60.3x49. Min. : 54x43.1 and 59.7x42.4 mm. 

 Breeding-season. — Usually about mid-April in Wales about a fort- 

 night earlier than Buzzard. Incubation. — Apparently chiefly by 

 female. Period about a month. Single brooded. 



Food. — Almost anything which can be killed on, or picked up from 

 ground ; mammals (rabbits, leverets, moles, squirrels, rats, mice, 

 etc.) ; birds (especially chickens, ducklings, young Grouse and Lap- 

 wings), occasionally old Grouse, Golden Plover, Partridge, Pigeon, 

 young Curlew, and various species of duck ; frogs, snakes, blind - 

 worms, earthworms and beetles, as well as carrion of all kinds. 



Distribution. — Great Britain. — Resident. Formerly abundant, 

 now confined to Wales, where only five birds known in 1905, but 



