RAPTORES." FALCON1D2E.
TH E K IT E .
THE FORK-TAILED KITE, AND GLEAD.
Falco milvus, The Kite, P enn. Brit. Zool. vol. i. p. 229.
,, ,, ,, M ontagu, Ornith. Diet.
,, ,, ,, B ewick, Brit. Birds, vol. i. p. 32.
Milvus vulgaris, ,, F lem. Brit. An. p. 51.
,, ,, ,, S elby, Brit. Ornith. vol. i. p. 74.
,, Ictinus, ,, J enyns, Brit. An. p. 8 6 .
,, vulgaris, ,, G ould, Birds of Europe, pt. x.
Falco milvus, Milan Royal, T emm. Man. d ’Ornith. vol. i. p. 59.
M ilvus. Generic Characters.—Beak straight at the base, curved from the
cere to the point, cutting margin with a slight festoon. Nostrils oval, oblique.
Wings long ; the fourth quill-feather the longest ; the first and seventh quill-
feathers nearly equal in length. Tail long, forked. Legs short. Toes short
and strong, the outer toe united at its base with the middle toe. Claws moderately
long and curved.
T h e K it e is readily distinguished among the British
Falconidte, even when at a distance on the wing, by its long
and forked tail. The flight of this large bird is singularly
graceful and easy, gliding smoothly along with little muscular
exertion. It still retains in some districts the name of Gled,
or Glead,—derived, according to Pennant, from the Saxon
glida. Occasionally it sails in circles, with its rudder-like
tail by its inclination governing the curve ; then stops, and
remains stationary for a time, the tail expanded widely, and
with its long wings sustaining its light body, apparently from
the extent of surface the bird is able to cover. In its mode
of taking its prey the Kite is distinguished from Falcons and
Hawks generally, by pouncing upon it upon the ground.
The nature of the food also makes this habit evident; twenty
two moles Were found in the nest of a Kite, besides frogs
and unfledged birds : it preys also on leverets, rabbits, snakes,
and particularly on the young of various Gallinaceous birds before
they have acquired the power of using their wings. The
Kite, like the Sparrow-Hawk, frequently visits the poultry-
yard, but is not remarkable for its courage : Hens have been
known by their vociferations and their show of resistance to
protect their Chickens from the threatened attack, and even
to drive away the unwelcome intruder.
A writer in the Magazine of Natural History relates that
he had almost daily opportunities of witnessing the powers of
the Kite in taking fish from a broad river near which he
resided ; and though distance prevented him from distinguishing
the particular sort, the birds were eminently successful,
occasionally alighting on the banks to eat their captures, at
other times bearing them off to the woods.
In Hertfordshire and Essex the Kite is called the Puttock,
and the Crotchet-tailed Puddock. Merrett, in his Pinax,
and Shakspeare, in the Second Part of Henry the Sixth,
identify the term Puttock with the Kite :
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