On looking up, the boys beheld a large bird wheeling in the air.

Its snow-white head and breast, the far spread, tapering wings, but, above all, the long forked tail, told them at a glance what bird it was.

It was the great Southern kite (_Falco furcatus_).
When first seen he was sailing in circles,--or rather in a spiral curve, that was constantly contracting downward and inward.

The centre of that curve was the spot occupied by the snake.
It was a beautiful sight to behold this creature cutting the thin air.
His flight was the _beau ideal_ of ease and gracefulness--for in this no bird can equal the kite.

Not a stroke of his long pointed wings betrayed that he needed their assistance; and he seemed to glory that he could navigate the air without them.