OCCURRENCE OF THE BLACK KITE AT ABERDEEN 133 



specimens obtained therefrom were submitted to Dr. Bowdler 

 Sharpe for determination (cf. Ussher's " Birds of Ireland," 

 pp. 64-65). The three Barra specimens occurred singly as 

 follows: a male on the 8th of October 1896; one, sex 

 undetermined, on the loth of November 1898 ; and, finally, 

 one on the I3th of October 1900. None of the specimens 

 show any signs of pink on the breast. Their respective 

 wing measurements are 3.08 ins., 3.06 ins., and 3.02 ins. 



ON THE OCCURENCE OF THE BLACK KITE 

 (MILVUS MIGRANS) AT ABERDEEN. 



By GEORGE SIM, A.L.S. 



A MALE of this species was shot near the city of Aberdeen 

 on the 1 6th of April last. 



In this specimen the expanse of the wings was 49 

 inches ; length from tip of bill to end of outer tail feathers 

 2 i inches ; weight 28|- ounces. Its stomach contained a few 

 small feathers only. 



In this species the tail is much less forked than in 

 the Common Kite (Milvtis ictinus\ and the tail feathers 

 are crossed by broad dark bands which are most conspicuous 

 on the under surface. The head and throat are dull gray. 

 Upper parts dark brown, each feather being tipped with 

 reddish-brown and its shaft black. Breast and abdomen 

 lighter brown, each feather having a rather broad central 

 stripe of black. 



I can find no mention of this species having occurred 

 in Britain other than the single record made by the late 

 Mr. John Hancock in the " Ibis" for 1867, (p. 253), of a 

 specimen having been captured in a trap in the deer- 

 park at Alnwick, in Northumberland, on the I I th of May 

 i 866. 



[We are informed that the Peterhead Museum has 

 " recently acquired a specimen of this bird from a local 

 source." If this is a Scottish example we shall be glad to 

 have full particulars. EDS.] 



