KITE. 
were a waitin'* our arrival. They had discovered where one pair of Kites were breeding, though they had been 
unable to detect the exact part 'of the fores, in which the nest was placed. The resort o "s a large 
fir-wood covering both sides of a steep gorge in the hills. The ground was so broken up wrf* ~ of rock 
and dry and stony gullies, as well as rendered almost impassable from fallen and rotten ^ 
work of no little difficulty to reach the spot where they had been observed As wo adviced t e bt ds wh^ 
were both flying in circles above the wood, came down nearer ; but not above once or twree d d t, ey v en tore 
within even a long gunshot. After scrambling a considerable distance, we stopped a few mmutes to res 
rather more open part of the wood, and, happening to look up, discovered a nest in one of the smallest 
, , , • i i.i nnA fUof it woe nmv usp.d : n/nn on 
tne contents, ana mauc uui tuau it ^.muuvu — o ' * ~ ^ 
the down. The old birds were now flying at a great height, with no signs ol approach, ng closer ; so a few 
dead boughs were collected, and placed in such a manner as to form a small hiding-place, about forty yards 
from the nest, under which I might await their return, while the keepers left the spot and retired to a safe 
distance, where they would be perfectly concealed from view. I had not long been in the shelter before my 
attention was attracted by a number of small stones rattling down the bill-side ; on looking up I discovered a 
goat standing on a small ledge, regarding me intently. After a few seconds lie made a start, bounding over 
some loose rocks, two or three of which were dislodged, and came dashing down towards where I was hiding. 
I did not make a move to save myself, as I knew not which way to turn ; and luckily I did not stir, as a couple 
of pieces, neither of them weighing less than a quarter of a hundredweight, crashed past within a lew leet ot 
where I was stationed. I remained for between three and four hours, but without success, as neither of the old 
Kites returned to the nest, and, indeed, disappeared entirely from sight during the last hour I waited. 
“ 20tli. Returned to the nest shortly before daybreak. One old bird left the tree just as I got within 
range ; there was, however, not light enough to shoot, with any certainty, at the momentary glimpse I caught 
of the bird as it skimmed swiftly and silently through the dark shadows thrown by the trees. After waiting a 
couple of hours without either bird appearing, we went back to the Lodge for breakfast, and later on returned 
with a small Bantam cock, which was taken up the tree and made fast in the nest, the young having been 
first secured, so that lie could not get at them. 1 imagined that when the Kites came in sight and found the 
intruder in possession of tlieir nest, they would immediately come w ithin range in order to turn him out. No 
sooner, however, did one of the old birds appear than the little cock, who had previously sulked and remained 
laying on bis side, raised himself up and, with a shrill cock-a-doodle-doo, bid defiance to the Kite, which 
instantly turned tail and rapidly disappeared from view, leaving the Bantam in possession. Although I 
waited for a considerable time, I only caught a distant glimpse of one bird, which retired again as soon as it 
came near enough to make out the state of affairs in the nest. As it appeared useless to wait any longer, we 
removed the cock and, having set loose the young birds, returned to the Lodge. 
“ Great was the rejoicing among the members of the keeper’s family at the safe return of the Bantam. 
The plucky little fellow, however, fully deserved the welcome lie received. 
“ Any cock, the saying is, will crow on his own dunghill ; but seldom lias one of liis race thrown down 
a challenge to an unknown foe under more adverse circumstances. 
“ The nest was composed of dead twigs of fir, and lined with sheep’s wool, hair, rags, dirt of every 
description, and lots of old scraps of newspaper. The food provided for the young consisted of a fresh young 
Grouse and a squirrel ; there were also the remains of a Curlew or two, with plenty of old bones and feathers 
laying about, showing that Grouse, Pigeons, and Peewits were frequently taken.” 
As I was of opinion that after the fright the old birds had got it would be best to leave them quiet for 
some days, 1 did not return till the 26th, when I again drove up the glen to make another attempt. 
