BLACK KITE. 



ACCIPITRES. 



97 



FA LCONIDJi 



MiLvus MIGRANS (Boclclaert*). 

 THE BLACK KITE. 



The Black Kite is supposed by some ornithologists to 

 be one of those species which are gradually extending their 

 geographical range, and being also a rather widely distri- 

 buted European bird, little excuse seems to be needed for 

 including it in this work, though as yet only a single instance 

 of its occurrence in the United Kingdom is known with cer- 

 tainty. This instance was recorded by Mr. John Hancock 

 in ' The Ibis ' for 1867 (p. 253), as follows :— 



"A fine mature male example of the Black Kite, Milvus 

 migrans (Bodd. 1783) (Falco ater, Gmel. 1788), came into 

 my possession in a fresh state on the 11th of May, 1866. 



* Falco mif/rans, Boddaert, Table des Planches Enlumineez, p. 28, no. 472 



(1783). 



VOL. I. O 



