48 FALCONID^. 
the birds which remain to nest appear to be those which are 
the first to go south ; the remainder cross to Europe in March, 
returning in October; a few, however, stay throughout the 
winter. The eggs, two or three in number, are very similar 
to those of M. korschun, but always larger/^ — Favier. 
The Common Kite is resident and to be seen almost every- 
where on the Spanish side of the Straits — though in the im- 
mediate vicinity of Gibraltar they seldom occur except on 
passage, and are as common in winter as at any other season. 
They particularly affect districts where there are many pine 
trees, on which, in company with M. korschun, they nest, but 
from a month to at least a fortnight earlier, and never in 
such numbers as that Kite. The Common Kite is easily 
distinguished from the next species, when on the wing, by its 
light colour and much more forked tail ; when flying over- 
head by the wings, which, underneath, are light-coloured, with 
one dark patch on each; in M. korschun the underparts of 
the wing are dark. 
22. MiLvus KORSCHUN (Gm.) . Black Kite. 
Moorish. Siwana. Spanish. Milano negro. 
" Seen near Tangier in immense flights, which pass over to 
Europe in February and March, to return in August and 
September. Many remain to breed, awaiting the return 
migration from Europe, when they all disappear for the 
winter.^ ' — Favier. 
Though a Spanish name is given above, very few Spaniards 
distinguish the difference between the common and the 
Black Kite; ''black,^^ however, is a misnomer, as the pri- 
maries are the only part of the plumage which is of that 
colour. The name migrans, by which this Kite is generally 
known, is most appropriate, as they are entirely migratory — 
the earliest day on which I observed them crossing the Straits 
being the 5th of March, then in great numbers, other days 
on which large flights passsd being the 26th, 27th, and 28th 
of that month, some on the 23rd, one on the 29th of April, 
and six or seven on the 5th of May. The latest date of the 
return migration was the 9th of October. It is more abun- 
