OK BIRDS. 
103 
KITE. ‘ 
The Kite is distinguished from other 
birds of prey by its forked tail, and the slow 
and circular motion it describes in the air. 
This motion is so smooth, that the action of 
its wings is scarcely perceptible. The 
Kite is larger than the common buzzard ; 
the head and back arc. of a pale ash-colour, 
varied with longitudinal lines across the 
shafts of the featners ; the neck is reddish ; 
the lesser rows of the wing- feathers are 
party-coloured, of black, red, and white; 
the feathers which cover the inside of the 
wings arc red, with black spots in the mid- 
dle ; the eyes are large ; the beak is much 
hooked ; the legs and feet yellow, and the 
talons black. 
