refidence except during the breeding feafon, at which time 

 it is very bold, and will often attack a brood of chickens, and 

 will not eafily be difappointed of its prey, frequently fuftain- 

 ing a combat with the hen; it will alfo attack and deftroy 

 young lambs, and fo eagerly is it then engaged in devouring 

 its prey, that inftances have been known of its being taken by 

 a fiiepherd's dog when thus employed. 



This bird makes its nefl early in the fpring, compofed of 

 flicks, wool, hair, and not unfrequently of pieces of cloth, 

 paper, and any other foft materials it meets with ; the female 

 lays three or four eggs of a pale yellow colour (nearly white) 

 with a few ruft-coioured fpots at the larger end ; during the 

 time of incubation, the male bird in the abfence of the female, 

 takes to the nefl:, and has been known to fit on the eggs for 

 three days without intermifiion. This was occafioned by the 

 female being caught in a fox trap, that had been placed in a 

 rabbit warren ; the trap had caught her by the centre and out- 

 fide toes, which by her continual ftruggles for releafe were 

 torn off : on her return to the neft, me brought with her a 

 full grown rabbit, which, owing to the injury fhe had received, 

 ihe was unable to tear to pieces ; this the male bird performed 

 for her, and from that time continued to feed her till fome 

 weeks after their young ones had left the nefl. 



From the great extent of furface oppofed to the trifling 

 weight of this bird, it is able to fupport itfelf when on wing 

 for a great length of time, and with very trifling exertion, 

 fweeping along with a very graceful motion, which, though 

 flow, is pleafing in its effecl:, fomewhat refembling the broad 

 fweeps made by an adept in the art of Ikating : when the 



Kite 



