This  fine  bird  may  be  easily  recognised  even
upon  the  wing  by  its  deeply  forked  tail.  One  of
the  most  remarkable  characteristics  of  the  Kite  is
its  singularly  graceful  and  long-sustained  flight.
When  the  bird  was  far  more  common  than  it  is
now,  the  English  naturalist  could  stand  and  watch
its  amazing  powers  of  wing  by  the  hour  together.
Upon  one  occasion  only  in  the  British  Islands  have
we  had  the  good  fortune  to  witness  the  once  familiar
sight  of  a  soaring  Kite.  We  watched  the  bird  rise
from  a  grove  of  trees  and  mount  upwards  and  up-
wards in  spacious  circles  with  wings  and  tail  out-
spread, the  highest  air  being  gained  with  scarcely
an  apparent  effort,  whilst  all  the  time  the  beautiful
creature  was  bearing  away  from  us  until  we  literally
lost  it  in  the  clouds.  Falcons  were  formerly  flown
at  the  Kite,  and  it  was  no  uncommon  thing  for
the  latter  to  keep  the  air  of  its  pursuer  until  both
were  lost  to  view.  In  many  of  its  habits  the  Kite
closely  resembles  the  Buzzard ;  it  is  ordinarily  a
sluggish  bird,  without  any  of  the  splendid  dash
which  characterises  the  movements  of  the  Hawks
and  Falcons.  From  this  we  may  infer  that  the
food  of  the  Kite  consists  principally  of  young  and


THE  KITE  125

weakly  birds  and  small  animals,  insects,  carrion
and  offal,  and  occasionally  fish.  The  mewing  note
of  the  Kite  in  this  country  is  rarely  heard  except
during  the  breeding  season.
We  may  here  state  that  the  Kite  is  doubtless  a
resident  in  our  islands,  such  few  as  breed  here.
