THE BIRDS OF PREY OF THE PUNJAB. 



1005 



after. His explanation was that the bird permitted 

 the bees to get between the feathers, by raising 

 them and then proceeded to keep them there by the 

 simple method of smoothing them down again. The 

 bees, between two feathers, were unable to back out 

 and also unable to turn the thorax round to sting 

 the bird. It sounds an amazing provision of 

 nature, to keep the bird supplied with food, and it 

 would be most interesting to know whether any- 

 body else has noticed a similar proceeding on the part 

 of this species. 



The Honey-Buzzard builds in trees, from April to 

 July, a nest of twigs lined with leaves or grass and 

 lays one or two eggs, " broad oval in shape, white or 

 buff thickly mottled and blotched with blood-red, 

 reddish or yellowish-brown, and measuring about 

 2-03 by 1-72. 



Genus Blanus. 



No. 1232. Elaniis axruUibS. The 



Black-Winged Kite, 



Characteristics. 

 Colouration, 



Measurements. 

 Habits, etc. 



Size small, length not exceeding 14" ; tarsus very 

 short, under 1^". 



Upper parts ashy grey, the median and smaller 

 wing coverts black, as also a narrow supercilium and 

 the posterior lores ; primaries grey. Under parts 

 including tail, the forehead and the sides of the 

 head white. In many specimens the white on the 

 neck and breast is tinged with light brown, and the 

 back too is brownish grey. These are young birds, 

 and the amount of brown varies, probably with age. 

 Bill black ; cere, gape, legs and feet yellow ; claws 

 black ; irides crimson, yellow in young birds. 



Length about 13'' ; tail 5" ; wing 10^" ; tarsus 1-3" ; 

 mid-toe without claw 1" ; bill from gape 1-1". (Blan- 

 ford.) 



This pretty little Kite may be found all over 

 the Province in suitable localities. Thin scrub 

 jungles, cultivation or grassy slopes are its most 

 favourite haunts. Not often to be found in dense 

 jungles or open plains, and nor does it appear to 

 ascend the Himalayas to any great height, though I 

 have seen it at about 8,000 feet. The flight of this 

 bird is unmistakable, the beat ot the wing being slow 

 and heavy for such a small bird. It is much given 

 to hovering, but its method of remaining stationary 

 in the air is, however,very different from that of the 

 Kestrel. 



It hovers with a regular slow beat of the wings, 

 not the quick vibrations of the Kestrel. Then again, 

 the wings are very often held straight, back, almost 

 at right angles to the sides of the body and not 

 horizontal to it as in the Kestrel, something like 

 that of a " tumbler " pigeon as it prepares to 

 " tumble." 



On seeing an insect on the ground, the wings 

 cease their beats and the bird, with its wings almost 



15 



