THE KITE. 
219 
the quiet is broken by its peculiarly shrill 
whistle or squeel. * When intruding on the 
eyrey, both sexes soar in a circling manner, 
making frequent dashes to the vicinity of the 
aggressor, uttering their cries with vehemence, 
shriller and more peculiarly toned. The nest is 
often placed only about half way up the tree, 
close to the stem, a slight and flat fabric. The 
eggs, two or three in number, are less than those 
of the common buzzard, and are white, speckled 
with brown. (See Plate XVI. fig. 1 .) 
The food of the Kite is various ; young 
game, the produce of the farm-yard, and rep- 
tiles, particularly the common lizard which is 
so abundant on the moors in summer, furnish 
ample food. Where there is a herring fishery 
near, the refuse, which is daily left on the 
beach is eaten. We have seen this several years 
since at Inverary. When the curers retired to 
their meals, six or seven of these birds would 
frequently sail down from the neighbouring wood, 
and uttering their shrill squeel, carry off the 
cleanings. We are aware of no part where these 
birds are more abundant than on both sides of 
Loch Fine ; and during the season of the fishery, 
they may have been attracted to the vicinity of the 
stations. We have no authenticated instance of 
* “ Whew,” as the shepherds and keepers call it. 
