Letters, Extracts, Notices, &^c. 107 



Sirs, — With reference to a query in the last number of 

 * The Ibis/ as to the manner in which birds of prey carry 

 their legs when in flight, I have no hesitation in confirming 

 Mr. Hartert^s opinion that the legs are carried stretched out 

 behind under the tail. This is easily seen when Eagles or 

 Falcons flying at hack are soaring over one's head. I have 

 also repeatedly noticed it in tame Kites and Buzzards when 

 living at liberty. In trained Falcons it can most easily be 

 observed, either in a bird waiting on low over head, or in 

 one raking at the lure. In the stoop the legs may plainly 

 be seen to drop from behind at the moment of clutching, 

 and, if successsful in clutching, of trussing the quarry, and 

 to be again extended behind when carrying on. 



Yours &c., 



Kope Hill, Lymington, E. G. Meade-Waldo. 



October 28, 1894. 



Sirs, — Referring to Mr. Blanford's letter in 'The Ibis' 

 for April 1894, regarding the occurrence of Emberiza schoa- 

 nictus and Circus cyaneus near Calcutta, I think that as the 

 former specimen was not secured I ought hardly to have in- 

 cluded it in my list, though at the time I was satisfied that 

 it was of this species. 



Circus cijaneus was named, and wrongly, as I now find, 

 from the wings and legs, as well as a written desciiption, of 

 two birds that I shot ; and I am much obliged to Mr. Blanford 

 for having correctly identified them as belonging to Circus 

 melanoleucus, a young male and an adult female. 



Both C. cyaneus and C. melanoleucus having the 5th primary 

 notched externally, and the extraordinary difference in the 

 plumage of the sexes of C. melanoleucus, have led to the con- 

 fusion of the two species. The notes, then, that I have made 

 on C. melanoleucus ('Ibis,' 1894, p. 62) have reference only 

 to adult males of this Species ; and those on C. cyaneus to 

 females and immature examples of C. melanoleucus. 



Yours &c., 

 Laverstoke, Philip W. Munn. 



November 1, 1894. 



