The handsome Kite still in- 
habits England, and may be 
known by its beautifully easy 
flight and its long forked tail. 
It is a destructive bird, feeding 
on game of all kinds ; and often 
seizing chickens and ducklings 
out of the farm-yard. It also eats 
rats, mice, snakes, frogs, lizards, 
and is a great robber of other 
birds’ nests, snatching the poor 
little things out of their warm nest 
before they are able to fly. When 
flying, it hardly seems to move 
its wings, but sails round in circles, 
and at last rises to such a height 
that it is hardly larger than a 
speck against the sky. 
It is a good fisher, and is able 
to catch the fish by sweeping 
suddenly down upon them and 
snatching them up as they come 
to the surface. On account of its 
beautiful gliding flight, it is some- 
times called the Gled, or Glebe. 
The Kite is possessed of a 
very docile and agreeable temper, 
and is easily tamed. Mr. Thomp- 
son records an instance, where 
a pair of these birds were taken 
from a nest near Loch Awe, 
in Argyleshire, and were so KITE .—Mtlvus regain* 
thoroughly domesticated that 
they were permitted to fly at liberty every morning. When thrown into the air, 
they always soared aloft in their graceful circling flights, displaying their wonder- 
ful command of wing and exulting in its exercise, but still so affectionate in their 
nature that they always returned to the hand of their owner when called. They 
were generally fed on rats and mice, and were very fond of catching the former 
animals as they were let loose from a cage. The bird has even been trained for 
purposes of falconry, and found to perform its task to the satisfaction of its owner. 
17 
c 
