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 ihe 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 fhepherd'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-coloured fpots at the larger end ; during the 
time of incubation, the male bird in the abfence of the female, 
takes to the neft, and has been known to fit on the eggs for 
three days without intermiffion. 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 jflruggles for releafe were 
torn off : on her return to the neft, fhe brought with her a 
full grown rabbit, which, owing to the injury fhe had received, 
ftie 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 neft. 
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 efFe6t:, fomewhat refembling the broad 
fweeps made by an adept in the art of Ikating : when the 
Kite 
