1 70 Allen’s naturalist’s library. 
wing. Its well-known powers of soaring used, in former da5's, 
to make it an object of pursuit for Falconers, and it is said 
that on some occasions both the Kite and its pursuer soared to 
such an immense height as to become invisible, and neiiher Fal- 
con nor quarry were ever seen again. The cry of the Kite is 
like that of its tropical hretlrren, a “ mewing ” one, but it is not 
heard in the same constant and irritating querulous manner, 
as is the case with the Govinda Kites in India, or the Egyptian 
Kites in Egypt. AVith the Red Kite the cry is principally 
heard in the breeding-season. 
In most of its ways the Red Kite is very Buzzard-like, and 
like that species, it captures its prey more by surprise and 
stealth than in open flight. Its diet is varied, consisting of 
the smaller mammals, birds, reptiles, and frogs, and also fish, 
but the remains of hares which have been found in the nest of 
the Kite are probably those of animals killed by some more 
powerful depredator, and carried off by the Kite after the animal 
has been despatched and partially eaten by its original captor. 
The same may be said of the Grouse, which the Kite is stated 
to snatch on occasion, for one can hardly im.agine a weak-footed 
bird like the Kite capturing a powerful bird like the Red 
Grouse, if the latter were in its full strength ; and it is, there- 
fore, most likely that only diseased or wounded birds fall 
victims to the Kite’s rapacity. Besides being a scavenger, it 
will also take young birds of all sorts, and in the old days, 
when the species was common, it obtained a bad name as a 
destroyer of young chickens. 
Nest. — From all accounts this is chiefly remarkable among 
the nests of the Birds of Prey for the scraps with which it is 
ornamented. It is generally placed in a tree, though in certain 
places it has been found on rocks, as in Northern Africa, for 
instance. As to the rubbish with which a Kite decorates its nest 
of stick.s, here are some of the items recorded by Mr. Sec- 
bohm as found by him in those he visited in Pomerania: 
“ old rags, parts of newspapers, a piece of embroidery, part of 
an old stocking, some moss, goat’s hair, rags, lumps of hair 
from a cushion, brown paper, wool, pig’s hair, &c.” 
Eggs. — From two to three in number ; pale grecnish-'white oi 
white, many of them with spots and blotches of reddish-brown 
