BLACK KITE. 81 
many passing through Cashmere on migration to winterin India. Thisisa 
slightly larger bird, with the white at the base of the outer primaries 
extending below the wing-coverts, and the white on the margins of the 
feathers of the head confined to the forehead. Of the two southern forms, 
M. govinda is confined to India, where it is only subject to unimportant 
internal migrations, whilst M. affinis inhabits Australia, Malaysia, Siam, 
and Burma, occasionally wandering into India. In neither of these forms 
is there any white on the forehead or crown; the principal difference be- 
tween them is one of size, the eastern bird measuring in length of wing 
from 16 to 18 inches, and the western bird from 174 to 194 inches. The 
former is said to have less white at the base of the primaries than the 
latter ; but this seems to be a very variable character. 
The Black Kite is not only one of the commonest birds of prey, but 
also one of the most interesting, its aerial movements, great familiarity, 
and gregarious habits arresting the attention of the observer and fixing 
the bird upon his notice. The Black Kite becomes more numerous in 
the southern portion of its range. Dixon, when in Algeria, made the fol- 
lowing notes regarding it :—“ It is very generally supposed that the Black 
Kite is, like the Common Kite, an inhabitant of forests and wooded dis- 
tricts ; but such is not invariably the case. In Algeria I met with the 
Black Kite in the most desolate of desert country, both on the plains and 
at altitudes of 7000 feet in the Aurés Mountains. I well remember to 
have seen this fine bird flying over the stony ground on which we obtained 
our new Chat (Sazicola seebohmi), where scarcely a tree or bush was to be 
seen, and where the only other large birds were a few Choughs and Ravens. 
In the oases of El Kantara and Biskra the Black Kite was also the com- 
monest Raptorial bird. At the former place they evidently nested in the 
stupendous cliffs of the pass; for I constantly saw them entering and 
leaving the rocks. At Biskra they were to be seen hawking over the desert 
country in slow graceful flight. The Black Kite also inhabits the towns 
of Algeria as well as the wilderness, and in company with the Vultures 
plays the part of a scavenger—evidently a welcome and respected guest, 
for it is never molested by the natives. I usually saw this graceful bird 
flapping lazily along some fifty yards above the ground; and sometimes 
as many as half a dozen were in the air together, wheeling gracefully 
about in circles for no other purpose, it seemed, than their own enjoy- 
ment. At Constantine the Black Kite could be seen flymg in company 
with the Egyptian and the Griffon Vultures; but I never saw it 
on the ground searching for garbage like those birds. Because it is 
left unmolested, the Black Kite is a very bold and fearless bird, and 
often soars just above the houses, and passes the observer within easy 
gunshot.” 
VOL. I. G 
