826 

 THE BIRDS OF PREY OF THE PUNJAB 



BY 



C. H. Donald, f.z.s. 

 Part III. 



(Continued from page 655 of Vol, XJSVI.) 

 Type F. 

 {With Plate I.) 



This chapter deals with 5 genera of the Birds of Prey, compris- 

 ing 9 species, of which one has really no bvasiness here, being 

 unknown to the Punjab so far, but as it has been recorded from 

 Quetta, and may wander into the districts adjoining Baluchistan, 

 I give it a passing mention. This is Milvus migrans, the Black 

 Kite. 



All the species of this type have one characteristic in common, 

 and that is, a tarsus feathered for half its length or more, in front, 

 and naked hehind. All except one are birds of medium size, i.e., 

 about the size of the ordinarj- Pariah Kite. The one exception 

 is the little Black-winged Kite {Elanus ccendeus) which is not 

 much bigger than a pigeon, except that it has long pointed wings 

 which make it look bigger, when seen flying. 



With regard to the genus Buteo, the Buzzards, Mr. Hume 

 has pointed out that the feathering of tlie tarsus is variable, but 

 for the purpose of these papers, I think, it will be found that the 

 feathering is a good enough guide, and though the extent of the 

 feathering may vary in different species of the genus, or even in 

 individual specimens of the same species, it will generally be found 

 to conform to the keys herein given. 



The genus Bnteo has been a bone of contention among ornitholo- 

 gists for a very long time, and whether the various species have, 

 even now, been definitely sorted out correctly, is by no means 

 certain. 



A e:enus in which there is no definite limit to the immature 

 plumage, and in fact, in which there is no distinctive plumage 

 for any age, among its many species, must obviously be a subject 

 for controversy and be difficult to divide up into species, unless 

 there are other constant factors capable of conferring specific rank. 



Whether Buteo vulgaris, B. pluraipes and B. desertorum are really 

 separate species or whether they are merely phases or races of the 

 same species, need not be here discussed. We are, here, only 

 concerned with the simplification of the present acknowledged spe- 

 cies, and not with arguments for or against their retention or 

 change. 



