MILVUS. | 73 
Genus MILVUS. 
The genus Milyus was established by Cuvier in 1800, in his ‘ Legons 
d’Anatomie Comparée,’ i. tabl. 2. Previous to that date the Kites were 
included in the genus Falco of Linneus. Cuvier did not designate any 
type; but inasmuch as the Falco milvus of Linnzus is the Common Kite, 
it has the greatest claim to be considered the type. 
The Kites differ from all the genera previously mentioned in having 
the lower half of the front of the tarsus furnished with broad plates, 
contrasting with the fine reticulations on the sides and back. From all 
the genera hereafter described they differ in combining a long tail with 
a short tarsus, the former being more than four times the length of the 
latter. 
The true Kites are confined to the Old World, but have distant relations 
in the New. Two species are in the British list, though one of them is 
only admitted by courtesy. Besides these the genus contains no species 
except the local races of the Black Kite which are mentioned in the article 
on that bird. The Kites resemble the Eagles and the Buzzards very 
closely in their habits, and are very nearly allied to the Sea-Eagles. 
Like them they build in trees and sometimes in cliffs, but they have the 
peculiarity of preferring wool, rags, and paper as a lining to the nest. 
Their eggs are often scarcely distinguishable from those of the Buzzard 
nor is there much difference in their mode of flight or in their choice 
of food. 
