William Thompson

“ Kite " appears commonly in the catalogues of birds given in the Statistical Surveys of the Irish counties, and elsewhere; but, as the larger species of the Falconida are in some places called Kite and Glead, as well as Goshawk or Goose- hawk, there can be no doubt that the buzzard, or some common species, was generally meant. The mere fact of rewards having been offered in the Irish Statutes Footnote 1 for the destruction of the " kite," as one of the birds of prey, does not prove anything with respect to the veritable species. ”

“ I had before heard from an old gamekeeper, who had hived for many years at Shane's Castle, of a few kites " with tails forked like swallows" having been killed there My friend, William Ogilby, Esq., in one instance, many years ago, saw this species in the county of Londonderry.
Mr. Richard Langtry, when at Loch Awe in Argyleshire, early in the summer of 1833, procured from the nest two young kites, which proved a highly interesting addition to his aviary. They at once became very tame and familiar, and were so gentle in dis- position as to be most engaging. ”