THE KITE’S NEST. 
47 
pieces of paper, and a worsted garter. In the midst of 
this singular collection of materials were deposited two 
eggs. The kite is now almost extinct in England, and a 
kite’s nest, of course, is a great rarity. The Rev. H. B. 
Tristram, speaking of the habits of the Egyptian kite 
(Milvus JEgyptins), says : *■—“ Its nest, the marine store- 
shop of the desert, is decorated with whatever scraps of 
bournouses and coloured rags can be collected ; and to 
these are added, on every surrounding branch, the cast-off 
coats of serpents, large scraps of thin bark, and perhaps 
a bustard’s wing.” 
We have alluded to the Buzzard ( Buteo vulgaris) in the 
passage above quoted from Richard III., and also to the 
synonym “ puttock,” which was sometimes applied to this 
bird, as well as to the kite. 
Mr. St. John, who was well acquainted with the common 
buzzard, thought that in all its habits it more nearly 
resembled the eagle than any other kind of hawk.-f- 
In the following passage, it seems probable, as suggested 
by Mr. Staunton, that a play upon the words is intended, 
and that “ buzzard ” in the second line means a beetle, so 
called from its buzzing noise :— 
“ O slow-wing’d turtle ! shall a buzzard take thee ? 
Ay, for a turtle, as he takes a buzzard.” 
Taming of the Shrew, Act ii. Sc. i. 
* “ The Great Sahara,” p. 392. 
-j- “ Tour in Sutherland,” vol. i. p. 121. 
