at the time I discovered the remains of llie Grouse, only eggs at the point of hatching and a single nestling
n i l h its eyes as yet unopened.
The Kite appears by no means a powerful bin) ; ami how it manages to possess itself of so strong ami
heavy a prey as an old Grouse, I am at a loss to understand. In most instances I have noticed that young
birds were brought as food to the nest ; and where I have seen the remains plentiful, they were in many
rases so old and decayed as to be past judging at wha! age I hey had been captured. Still I well remember
that most of the feathers scattered about belonged evidently to young birds; 1 also particularly remarked
that the only old cock Grouse I ever found oo one of their nests (perfectly fresh-killed and in a lit state to
examine) was minus Ibe head. This bird I fancy, from the manner iu which the neck was lacerated, bad been
struck down by a Peregrine (these Falcons frequently kill more than they require, leaving their victims lying
where they fall I. and afterwards picked up and brought in by the Kite. Probably the greater part of the Grouse
destroyed by this species are wounded or diseased bird-, with the exception of the young that they take when
their own nestlings are in the most ravenous stage. The squirrels must, I should imagine, have bean surprised
on the ground, while on their way from one tree to another in some open part of the country, as among the
branches so active an animal would, 1 fancy, have been more than a match for its captor.
Formerly the Kite was stated to lie remarkably easily taken by means of traps. During the last tea years,
however, I have only known about half a dozen captured in this manner. This ipeofaa appears to have been
entirely lianisbed from the woods in the more Open and cultivated parts of the country, and those that a n left
have, in most instances, taken up their quarters in wild and remote districts where little or no trapping is
carried on ; also in deer-forests, where, of course, vermin are never molested. I was told by an old keeper,
in one of the glens in the Northern II ighlands, that about forty years ago, when these birds were common, he
used to t r ap numbers in the spring by using old rags instead of bait, the birds lieing in the habit of taking
these materials for constructing their nests. I am also w ell acquainted with a forester's lodge iu (mother district
where, even at the presenl lime, it is useless during the nesting-season to put out any small articles of wearingapparel
to dry unless a close watch is kept, as they are sure to be carried off by (he Kilcs before the day is
over.
All the nests of this species that I have seen have been placed in trees, and in every instance a Scotch
lir has lieen resorted to. The position of the nest varies considerably—sometimes in the very topmost tu igs of
a small bending pine that is scarcely able to bear the weight of even the lightest climber, occasionally among
the higher blanches of some large and spreading lir, conspicuous by its size among the giants of the forest, and
at limes at only the heiylit of fifteen or eighteen feet, placed close to the main stem, where even the immense
collection of rubbish that is used as a nursery by tin- species is scarcely noticed, a situation having licen chosen
where several large limbs branch out from the trunk.
I have never yet had the opportunity of visiting a nest that was placed among rooks or cliffs ; but I was
informed by a keeper on the west coast of the Highlands, in n wild district where large limber was scarce, that
he had the previous season destroyed the greater part of a brood of Kid's which had been roared in a nest among
some large and broken slabs of rock on a steep hill-side. He described the birds accurately ; but on searching
the spot we could find no traces of their having visited the locality for breeding-purposes again, although one
of Ibe old birds had escaped the massacre of the previous season. I would not hazard an opinion as to what
species of Hawk it could have been, as not even a feather was preserved ; and I know by past experience Ibat
it is useless to trust to the memory of any person who is not thoroughly well informed about the bird they
attempt to describe.
The difference in si/.e lwtween the male and female, which is so conspicuous in many of our birds of prey,
is scarcely to 1m- noticed iu this species. If J own opinion was Ibat the male when on wing appeared slightly
the largest; the naturalist, however, who prepared the spsumons I shot stated otherwise. The colouring of
the sexes is almost identical; iu the male perhaps the head is lighter and the markings v clearly defined ;
the reddish brown on the breast, flanks, and wings is also slightly brighter. The tail is certainly longer and
considerably more forked. The tints of various specimens differ somewhat remarkably; but it is baHMaatbk to
form a judgment from old skins, as the colours are certain to fade unless great care is taken lo prevent e\p<,suro
to strong light.
I believe that in pursuit of prey for their young the old birds will at times roam over an immense exlent
of ground, as many as fifty or sixly miles being covered during a single foray. As they usually proceed in
large circles, and seldom in a straight course, the dislanir actually passed over must he considerably greater.
Some years back I used to notice (must frequently a few hours after daybreak, bat now anil then at
all times of day) a single Kile sailing slowly along over the low ground adjoining the liauks of a lar-e river
m the Central Highlands. The track followed was almost Identical on every occasion; the bird appeared to !>••
making its way straight up the valley, 1ml it always paused to take three or four circles over certain patohei
of rough gruund, and also regularly examined some straggling plantations of birch that fringed the sloping
hill-sides.
On reaching Ibe large lir-woirds, a mile or two further up t h e glen, if would search round BOM closely;
but, although often watched, I never observed it capture any prey. Once it appeared to be carrying some
small object in its talons; but the height at which ¡1 kept rendered a good view impossible. I concluded
that there was a nest somewhere within a few miles, and made several inquiries, but without any result.
At length, a year or two later, I discovered by rhauee that the bird that followed this route belonged (in one
instance at least) to a nest fully twenty-five miles distant ".
Having only visited the glens frequented by this species during the summer months, when they were
engaged in their nrsling-opcrations, I have never met with a chance of studying their habits daring the
depth of ii inter. The aroater part of the birds, I liellevc, remain in (he neighbourhood of their nana! haunts;
but I can state nothing concerning the manner in which they procure their pray during that season. The
small numbers (compared with the young of Ibe White-tailed Eigle and (be ('spicy} 1 hal are observed about
the time of migration would lead one to suppose that hut few change their quarters on the approach of
severe weather f. I was informed by one of the Trinity men who had pavsed many years on different portions
of the coast, and was particularly well acquainted with birds of prey, that he bad never seen a Kite during
bis time of service. Numbers of Peregrines, a few single Owls (and on one occasion a flight of forty or till y i,
an Eagle or two, and several Ospreys had come under his oliscrvation ; but not a Salnion-tailed Qled had be
recognized since the days when he bad robbed their nests in his native glen. Visitors from the couliucnl are
by no means numerous; anil as our stock of Kites is far from large, I am afraid that, with the exception
of two or three forests where the survivors are strictly guarded, these interesting birds will, before many
years have passed, have entirely disappeared from the British Islands.
I am nol acquainted with above four or five districts where this species may still be found breeding; in
some of these localities hut one or two pairs are usually oliscrved, in others as tiuitiy as three or four nests might
possibly be found scattered over the woods w ithin a distance of twenty or twenty-live miles.
The shy oud wary habits of the Kite, as well us the nature of the country in which it is now found, can,
I think, be hesl d<-scrihed by giving a few extracts from my nole-books, written at the time I was iu Mamh
" 187f>, June 1!)tk. Having previously made arrangements, drove up the glen and met the keeper*, who